Communication is one of the main challenges of business model innovation and business model implementation in Business Architecture. We need to get the message to the right people, and communicate it in a way they understand, like, and can move forward with. In this blog post, we will describe different ways of communicating business models.
A great idea deserves a great presentation. Whether you’re pitching to an angel investor or convincing your first customer, making a strong impression is key. You only get one chance to make a first impression, and a visually compelling business model is far more effective than a collection of post-it notes.
Approach:
Start by creating your business model and identifying your target audience and objectives. Then, collaborate with an artist who understands business concepts to develop a prototype. Test it with a member of your target audience—if they approve, finalize the design. Ensure the model looks exclusive and avoid mass duplication. Remember, crafting the perfect model can be time-intensive but ultimately rewarding.
PDF posters are an engaging way to display your business model. They not only enhance your office space but also spark discussions and generate reactions.
Approach:
Design your business model with clarity in mind. Use easy-to-read fonts, clear statements, and high-resolution visuals. The timing of your presentation matters—creating the poster right after a high-energy workshop session can amplify enthusiasm. Location is also important; place the poster near those who contributed to its creation to encourage discussions and provide explanations when needed.
Exporting your business model to PowerPoint allows you to walk your audience through the entire narrative—from customer problems to value propositions, revenue streams, key activities, and costs.
Approach:
After exporting your model, customize the layout to align with your company’s brand identity. Leverage PowerPoint’s extensive capabilities to visually enhance your story. Start by emphasizing why your business exists, which lies in the customer problem. This creates a compelling narrative for your pitch presentation.
Microsoft Office tools are invaluable for integrating parts of your Business Model Canvas into other documentation, helping clarify messages, substantiate choices, and encourage idea generation.
Approach:
Business models are often included in business plans, but they can also clarify the context of project plans. Rather than overwhelming your audience with the entire model, introduce it step-by-step to build understanding and focus.
HTML output is ideal for sharing your business model across your organization’s intranet or public website. Employees, as well as external partners, can easily access and explore key aspects of the model by clicking through the boxes.
Approach:
Before generating the HTML report, clearly define the report’s goal and structure. Consider how the landing page will look and ensure it reflects your company’s style using a cascading stylesheet. This helps present the business model in a clean, accessible format.
While presenting the canvas itself is often sufficient, generating a detailed MS Word report in RTF format can provide further clarity by documenting the rationale behind your model.
Approach:
Use an A3 landscape format to display your canvas models for legibility. After generating an RTF report, customize it to ensure readability and clarity. Tables should be used to present the model in a structured way, particularly when dealing with large, complex models that require deeper analysis. Adjust settings as needed to improve the presentation.
The business model is just the starting point for implementation. Once you’ve defined your business model, transforming it into actionable implementation concepts using tools like ArchiMate can help bridge the gap to execution. By integrating your model into architecture frameworks, you can create roadmaps that guide the transition from your current state to the desired future state.
Approach:
There is a standard mapping between business model concepts and architecture concepts. You can tailor this mapping by selecting terms that align with your company’s conventions. By adjusting the implementation concept for each “post-it” in your canvas, you generate architecture models (processes, applications, business interfaces, actors) that lay the foundation for implementation.
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We’ve explored several ways to present your business model effectively. Clear communication is essential for fostering discussions and exchanging ideas, whether you use artistic presentations, detailed reports, or integrated tools. Before jumping into implementation, everyone must be aligned with the original vision. While the artistic approach is powerful, it can be time-consuming. Tools like Bizzdesign’s Business Model Canvas can significantly streamline communication, making generating various views and models easier. Share your thoughts and any alternative presentation methods you’ve used in your practice.
Guest blogger and consultant
Remco has 20+ years of experience and is an experienced professional in enterprise and business architecture. He helps organizations improve quality and customer experience, drive innovation, eliminate technical debt, and achieve savings by making approaches such as Business Model Canvas, BIZBOK, TOGAF, SAFe, SCRUM, and ArchiMate manageable and applicable.
