Business Model Canvas: a tool for defining Business Models (part 11)

This eleventh part is the last article I will write about the series of the Business Model Canvas that was developed by Alexander Osterwalder and Yves Pigneur. During the course of these posts additionally to the introduction of the tool I explained each of its building blocks: customer segments, value proposition, channels, customer relationships, revenue streams, key resources, key activities, key partnerships and cost structure.

In this way if you have been reading the posts of this series, on this point you must have an understanding about the tool, how it is used and how each building block must be delivered. However before I finish I will like to present to my readers some advices and tips in order to use the tool in a better way.

The Business Model Canvas is a true canvas

The name Business Model Canvas has a lot of sense because the idea is to fill it in the same way an artist paints over a canvas. Thus delivering it on a notebook or PC goes against it. The advice is to print as big as you can the canvas and stick it to a wall in order to work on it. On the Internet you might find many images of the Business Model Canvas you can download.

Once you have it, it is very important to gather a group in order to work on it. Other advice is to have a group with different backgrounds because they will be able to contribute from different angles; ideas abut how the business should be structured. A moderator should be present but being open to debates. All the “crazy and rare” ideas are welcome because it is common to fin in these type of ideas the most successful and innovative models.

The idea is to perform many sessions with the group where each of the building blocks are discussed. The moderator must watch for all the ideas the group discusses; write them on post-its and stick them to the canvas. The ideas that are discarded are simply taken down of the canvas. A good practice is to work the canvas on more than one session in order for the people to digest the subject, rethink it and come back with new ideas.

I hope that this post and the ones before this one help you to develop your business model. This is an innovative and excellent tool, but you and your group are the ones that will bring it to life by structuring and rethinking the different elements of the canvas.

Imagen tomada de Flickr.com