What is the best way to use the Business Model Canvas in consulting?

I have found it useful to define the value proposition/goal in one sentence - simple, concise and objective. Often times instead of multi-pack slides, I have found the business model canvas to be very effective - power of illustrations-on-a-page!

Make sure you know what you want out of the Business Model Canvas (BMC) before you begin. Every objective—from ideation to validation to communication—may call for a distinct strategy or BMC variant. Getting started with the query "what's the problem we're solving?" is an excellent idea. Repeat as many times as required. The best person to respond to that query is your client. Find or create the BMC version that best suits the strategy of your solution when it is evident to all in the room what the issue is.

The Business Model Canvas is a strategic management tool that provides a visual framework for developing, describing, and innovating a business model. In consulting, the Business Model Canvas is a valuable tool for analyzing and collaborating with clients to improve their business strategies. Here's how to effectively use the Business Model Canvas in consulting: Understand the Client's Business: Before using the Business Model Canvas, thoroughly understand the client's business, industry, and market context. Gather relevant information about their current business model, challenges, and goals. Collaborative Workshops: Conduct collaborative workshops with key stakeholders, including executives, managers, and employees.

In consulting, maximize the Business Model Canvas (BMC) by facilitating client collaboration, creating a shared visual understanding of the business model. Analyze components comprehensively to identify gaps and opportunities. Leverage the canvas for scenario planning, allowing exploration of different business conditions. Collaboratively prioritize key elements and use the BMC iteratively for adaptability. Use it as a communication tool for stakeholders, integrating it with other consulting methodologies for a holistic analysis. The BMC becomes a dynamic tool for actionable recommendations and strategic refinement.

In consulting, effectively using the Business Model Canvas involves: Define Client Goals: Tailor the canvas to address the client's specific objectives and challenges. Focus on Key Elements: Emphasize canvas sections most relevant to the client's needs. Industry Customization: Adapt the canvas for specific industry contexts. Strategic Facilitation: Use the canvas to stimulate strategic discussion and thinking. Identify Opportunities: Highlight areas for improvement or potential growth. Collaborative Engagement: Actively involve the client in the canvas process for informed insights. This approach ensures the Business Model Canvas is purpose-driven and client-centric.

Working together with stakeholders is essential to producing a thorough and perceptive BMC. It's an innovative strategy that ensures that the final BMC represents a group understanding of the business and encourages a sense of ownership among team members. Including stakeholders by?their preferences and availability is made flexible by the variety of approaches discussed, which range from workshops and digital tools to interviews.

One of the greatest aspects of any BMC is how easy it is to grasp what it is composed of and what it aims to achieve. The challenge lies within gathering the correct experts and product owners, which I suggest you prepare well in advance for as best as you can. Part of the necessary people you will need might only become apparent within the process of creating the BMC. Because of that you should be open to creating it in several workshops or discussions and not aim to complete it in one go (situation dependant, of course sometimes that can be a valid approach just as well).

In consulting with the Business Model Canvas, stakeholder involvement is key: Engage Stakeholders: Involve key decision-makers and team members in the canvas development. Collaborative Workshops: Host workshops for stakeholder input on each canvas section. Feedback Integration: Regularly incorporate stakeholder feedback to align the canvas with business needs. Transparent Communication: Ensure open and inclusive dialogue throughout the process. Validate Assumptions: Use stakeholder insights for validating and testing canvas assumptions. Ongoing Engagement: Keep stakeholders actively involved for continuous canvas refinement. This approach ensures the Business Model Canvas is inclusive, dynamic, and tailored to real business scenarios.

I always involve key stakeholders in filling out the Business Model Canvas. This isn't limited to the C-suite; I engage employees, suppliers, and sometimes customers too. Say I'm working on the value proposition section; I'll conduct a workshop with these groups to gather diverse insights. This approach ensures the canvas reflects a multifaceted view of the business.

Un enfoque práctico pero a la vez funcional que he implementado en Proyectos de Consultoría, es "mapear": 1) Los procesos internos del Negocio del Cliente. 2) El Customer Journey que siguen los Clientes de mi Cliente. Esto con el fin de plasmarlos en la sección que corresponda dentro del BMC, y que no se omitan, no sean considerados o incluso, ni siquiera el Cliente sabía cuán importante eran, para el funcionamiento u operación indispensable para el Negocio del Cliente.

Alex Osterwalder, autor del business model canvas, menciona que el BMC creado, se hace con mucho esfuerzo para luego ser desechado., es decir tirado a la basura. Se necesita frecuentemente destruir tu modelo, incluso probar varios diferentes y continuar haciéndolo de manera frecuente. Si uno construye su modelo y, aún si lo valida, se mantiene estático, el modelo quedará obsoleto o superado por la competencia.

In consulting, using the Business Model Canvas effectively includes: Assumption Identification: Clearly define assumptions for each canvas segment. Market Validation: Test assumptions against market data for accuracy. Customer Feedback: Use customer insights to validate customer-related assumptions. Pilot Experiments: Conduct small-scale tests to evaluate key business model elements. Financial Analysis: Apply financial modeling to assess revenue and cost assumptions. Iterative Updates: Continuously revise the canvas based on test outcomes, ensuring it remains a dynamic tool. This approach helps ensure the Business Model Canvas is realistically aligned with market and business conditions.

In my experience, every part of the Business Model Canvas is built on assumptions. I make it a point to validate these through market research or customer feedback. For example, if a client is considering a subscription model, I'd suggest a pilot program or a customer survey to test this assumption before a full rollout.

Like any tool or method the BMC has its strengths and weaknesses. Especially with how easy it is to understand, it also becomes much more easy and open to discussion. Before presenting a BMC in a larger setting or with top management stakeholders, you should aim to get feedback in a smaller circle and try getting any questions answered that might just impede on its overall credibility. Furthermore, it is fine to state where you have made assumptions, especially if there was no answer available to a particular structural element or other limitations like time have forced you to do so, as long as the assumptions themselves are reasonable and can be explained.

La actualización regular del BMC refleja la evolución de tu comprensión sobre la idea de negocio y su entorno. Este enfoque permite ajustar segmentos, incorporar nuevos elementos y eliminar los obsoletos. La iteración en diferentes versiones del BMC posibilita explorar escenarios, opciones y alternativas, ofreciendo una visión más clara del progreso y permitiendo adaptarse eficazmente a condiciones cambiantes.

In consulting, updating the Business Model Canvas is crucial: Regular Reviews: Schedule periodic reviews of the canvas to ensure it stays relevant. Adapt to Changes: Modify the canvas in response to market shifts, customer feedback, and internal changes. Stakeholder Input: Continually incorporate insights from all stakeholders to keep the canvas aligned with business realities. Reflect Learning: Update the canvas to reflect new learnings and insights gained from ongoing operations and market interactions. Flexibility: Maintain flexibility in the canvas to adapt to unexpected changes or challenges. Documentation: Keep a record of changes to track the evolution of the business model and strategy over time.

The Business Model Canvas is dynamic, and I regularly update it to reflect any market changes or shifts in business strategy. For instance, if a major competitor disrupts the market, I revisit the canvas with my client to re-evaluate our key activities and value propositions.

As any company changes, so does their strategy, their structure and finally their business model (and in a transferred sense: their busines model canvas). As most artifacts describing any part or piece or the business architecture as a whole, the BMC also has its own lifecycle requiring continuous (but not constant!) checks and improvements. Shifts in the BMC can also be a pointer or a signal that parts of the business strategy and makeup are changing, which can be an extremely valuable insight for management.

In consulting, using the Business Model Canvas effectively involves storytelling: Clear Narrative: Construct a coherent story around the canvas, explaining how each component interacts to create a successful business model. Visual Elements: Use visual aids and illustrations to make the canvas more engaging and understandable. Stakeholder Perspectives: Tailor the story to resonate with different stakeholders, highlighting aspects most relevant to each. Simplicity and Focus: Keep the narrative simple and focused, avoiding over-complication. Consistent Messaging: Ensure the story aligns with the company's overall vision and strategy. Engaging Presentation: Present the canvas in an engaging manner to capture attention and foster understanding.

The BMC is easily one of the most accessible views on a business for anyone on the in and outside. Handcrafting your narrative and storyline should always be the case, but the BMC allows any stakeholder to quickly assess where they are located within the larger picture and maybe how they can influence the business in a positive direction. While it is hard to imagine the BMC as the sole piece of content it can easily ignite a discussion about values and plans (in a positive way, if moderated) or act as a starting point for further outlining the future setup.

I use the Business Model Canvas to craft a narrative about the client’s business. How do the different elements interact and collectively create value? I find that presenting the canvas as a story makes it more relatable, especially when I'm discussing it with stakeholders who may not be as familiar with business terminology.

The Business Model Canvas is a valuable tool in consulting, providing a holistic view of a company's business model. Consultants can utilize it to facilitate strategic discussions with clients, fostering a shared understanding of key components like customer segments, value propositions, and revenue streams. The collaborative nature of the canvas allows consultants and clients to co-create and iterate on business models, enabling a more effective and transparent strategy development process. Additionally, the Canvas aids in aligning various stakeholders and ensuring that all aspects of the business model are considered, enhancing the overall consulting engagement.

Utilizing the Business Model Canvas (BMC) in consulting is best approached by focusing on customer segments. Consultants can analyze and refine a client's value proposition, ensuring alignment with customer needs. For instance, when advising a tech startup, the BMC helps identify target customers and tailor products. By mapping customer relationships, channels, and key activities, consultants optimize the business model. This strategic use of the BMC enhances client competitiveness and aligns their offerings with market demands.

Dans le conseil, le BMC est pour moi l'outil dediagnostic en médecine ou au KYC pour les banquiers. ?? Diagnostic Initial : Je l'utilise pour comprendre les structures d'affaires, à travers les propositions de valeur et les modèles de revenus. Cela aide à identifier les domaines d'amélioration. ?? Solutions Sur Mesure : Les insights du BMC me guident dans l'élaboration de solutions spécifiques pour les défis identifiés, garantissant la pertinence et la précision. ?? Réévaluation Continue : Je revisite régulièrement le BMC avec les clients pour adapter les stratégies à leur entreprise en évolution, assurant ainsi une efficacité continue. Cette approche ancre profondément mon conseil dans la compréhension des besoins des clients.

Die Anwendung des Business Model Canvas in der Beratung erm?glicht es Ihnen, komplexe Gesch?ftsmodelle zu verstehen, zu visualisieren und anschlie?end zu verbessern, was die Grundlage für fundierte strategische Entscheidungen bilden kann.

I would avoid sharing the BMC with the client and prefer to rephrase it with storytelling. Client do not need to know what is under the hood. this can bring too much information, appear complex and finally loose focus on what is really important.