Strategy and Business Modeling

Strategy discussions often focus on targets and initiatives without examining how the organisation actually creates, delivers and captures value. When competitors, technologies or customer needs change, the existing model loses strength slowly, and by the time revenues fall the options are limited. At the same time, new business model ideas are often approved on enthusiasm and a slide, without testing the assumptions that decide whether they will work.

This programme links strategy and business modelling in one practical process. It moves through five stages: understanding the business model and its context, analysing the competitive environment, designing alternative business models, testing and validating them with evidence, and turning the chosen model into an action plan that the organisation can execute.

Built on recognised practice. The programme uses widely recognised strategy and design tools, including the Business Model Canvas and Value Proposition Canvas, Porter's five forces, jobs-to-be-done thinking, Blue Ocean strategy concepts, the three horizons model and lean experimentation methods. They are applied to real cases so that participants build a shared language for strategy across disciplines.

Decisions this programme improves. Whether the current business model can be improved or needs to change; which new models to explore; which assumptions must be tested before investment; how to balance the core business with new ventures; and how to allocate resources and partnerships to support the chosen model.

How it is delivered. Twenty hours across five sessions, built around one running case: an established organisation facing new digital and service-based competitors. Participants map the current model, design two alternatives, build a test plan and prepare a short recommendation for leadership.

In-house option. For organisations, the programme can be tailored to your own business units, markets and strategic questions, and delivered for cross-functional teams so that participants work on real business model challenges.

Who Should Attend

Senior managers and business unit heads responsible for growth and performance

Strategy and planning teams: strategy managers, corporate development and business planning staff

Innovation and transformation leads developing new products, services or ventures

Marketing and product managers shaping value propositions

Finance and business analysts assessing new business opportunities

Objectives

Describe how a business model creates, delivers and captures value using the Business Model Canvas

Analyse the market, industry forces and trends that affect a business model

Identify customer jobs, pains and gains and design value propositions that address them

Assess the strengths and weaknesses of an existing business model

Generate and compare alternative business models, including platform, service and subscription models

Identify the critical assumptions behind a business model and design tests to validate them

Evaluate business model options against strategic fit, financial viability and risk

Balance investment between the core business and new growth options

Build an implementation roadmap with milestones, resources and partnerships

Present a business model recommendation clearly to senior decision makers

Course Outline

Business Models and Strategy

Strategy and business models: how they relate
The Business Model Canvas and its nine building blocks
Value creation, value delivery and value capture
Common business model patterns: platforms, subscriptions, services and ecosystems
Business models in the public and non-profit sectors
Creating a shared language for strategy across the organisation

The Business Model in Context: Markets and Competition

Market forces, key trends and macroeconomic factors
Porter's five forces and industry analysis
Competitor business models and sources of advantage
Disruption: how new entrants challenge established models
Technology, data and AI as drivers of business model change
Sustainability and circular economy considerations

Designing Business Models

Customer insight and jobs-to-be-done
The Value Proposition Canvas: customer profile and value map
Idea generation techniques for new business models
Blue Ocean thinking and creating uncontested market space
Improving an existing model versus designing a new one
Revenue models, cost structures and partnerships

Testing and Validating Business Models

Identifying critical assumptions and leap-of-faith questions
Designing experiments: interviews, prototypes and pilots
Evidence, learning and decision criteria for pivots
Financial viability: unit economics and simple business model projections
Risk assessment and portfolio thinking with the three horizons model

From Business Model to Action

Choosing a business model and making the strategic case
Implementation roadmap, milestones and resources
Organisation, capabilities and culture needed for the new model
Governance for new ventures alongside the core business
Collaboration across disciplines and locations
Action plan: applying business model thinking in your organisation

Competencies

Business model analysis with the Business Model Canvas

Industry and competitive analysis

Value proposition design

Business model innovation and redesign

Assumption testing and business experimentation

Business model financial viability assessment

Growth portfolio balancing

Business model implementation planning

Strategic recommendations to senior management

Live Online

Access Elite Academy’s complete training portfolio live online. Organizations, distributed teams and professionals can join scheduled interactive sessions or request any program to be delivered online, subject to scheduling and delivery requirements. Elite Academy’s Live Online Training provides access to our complete portfolio of professional programs without linking availability to a physical destination. Organizations, multi-location teams and individual professionals can join scheduled instructor-led sessions or request any program from the Elite Academy portfolio for live online delivery, subject to scheduling and delivery requirements. The format preserves real-time interaction, expert guidance and practical learning while removing the need to travel. Browse the current Live Online schedule below or request your preferred program and dates.