U

Lecture 6

The Business Model

Importance of Business Models

  • Business plans are necessary for developing a business.

  • Business models guide effectual thinking by:

    • Testing ideas and hunches.

    • Mapping out new territory.

    • Understanding available means.

Definitions

  • Business Plan: A specific plan detailing how a business idea is implemented to achieve goals.

  • Business Model: A generic plan describing how an organization creates, delivers, and captures value.

Business Plan vs. Business Model

  • Business Plan: Focus on specific action and goals.

  • Business Model: Focus on overarching value creation.


Value and Value Creation

Understanding Value

  • Customer Value (CV): Defined as CV = Benefits - Cost.

Customer Value Breakdown

  • Benefits: Advantages and qualities related to the product or service including brand image and overall user experience.

  • Cost: Encompasses not only the price paid (cash, financing, etc.) but also non-price terms like time, energy, and convenience issues.


The Value Proposition Canvas

Key Components

  • Jobs: Tasks or problems customers want to resolve in their lives.

  • Pains: Challenges or annoyances customers face in job completion.

  • Gains: Outcomes and benefits desired by customers, which can be required, expected, desired, or unexpected.

Offerings

  • List includes bundles of products and services aiding customers in task completion.

  • Pain Relievers: Methods designed to reduce or eliminate customer annoyances during job execution.


Business Model Canvas Analysis

Customer Segments

  • Determining customer segments involves looking at:

    • Needs justifying distinct offers.

    • Reaching customers through different distribution channels.

    • Establishing varied types of relationships and profitability.

Types of Customer Segments

  1. Mass Market: Focuses on a broad, undifferentiated group.

  2. Niche Market: Concentrates on specialized segments.

  3. Segmented: Customization across different niches.

  4. Diversified: Targets unrelated markets.

  5. Multi-Sided Platforms: Acts as brokers among various parties.


Value Proposition

Key Aspects

  • Solves customer problems and addresses reasons for switching brands.

Different Types of Value Proposition

  • Disruptive vs Incremental: Focuses on new technologies or additional product features.

  • Cost-based: Reduces price as a focus area.

  • Performance-driven: Enhances functionality and appeal.

  • Customization: Tailors offerings to specific needs.

  • Newness: Addresses new, unmet needs.

Delivering Value Propositions

  • Channels: Distribution can be managed through:

    • Own operations

    • Partner involvement

    • Indirect sales via wholesalers or online platforms.


Customer Relations

Objectives

  • Motivation: Focuses on:

    • Customer acquisition.

    • Retention.

    • Boosting upselling opportunities.

Types of Customer Relationships

  1. Personal: Direct interactions.

  2. Self-service: Minimal relationships beyond transactions.

  3. Co-creation: Customer involvement in product development.


Revenue Streams

Types of Revenue Generation

  • Recurring Revenue: Through usage fees and subscriptions.

  • Transaction Revenue: Sales from assets and services.

  • Third-party Revenue: Involves advertising and brokerage fees.

Pricing Models

  • Fixed pricing, menu pricing, dynamic pricing based on demand and negotiation.


Key Resources

Types of Resources

  1. Physical: Facilities, buildings, technology.

  2. Human/Intellectual: Skills, patents, and knowledge.

  3. Financial: Access to funds or credit.

  4. Production: Resources for product design and delivery.

  5. Problem-solving capabilities: Service-oriented solutions.

  6. Platform resources: Focused on web-based business operations.


Key Activities and Partnerships

Key Activities

  • Optimization: Enhancing scale and cost effectiveness while maintaining quality.

  • Risk-sharing: Collaborations for R&D and sharing knowledge in supply chains.

  • Control activities: Can include mergers to gain capabilities.

Key Partnerships

  • Diverse alliances for strategic enhancements.


Cost Structure

Important Cost Considerations

  • Identifying fixed vs. variable costs in the organization.