Business Model Generation and BA

Author(s)

Business Relationship Manager - Product Lifecycle Management, Chevron Corporation

I start with this question: “Is Business Architecture (as well as EA) only for the old and the flabby?” By that I mean old and flabby enterprises, not old and flabby architects! I would say (and I would love to see counter evidence) that the practice of BA and EA has been concentrated on the larger institutions among us – the Fortune 1000 corporations, the mandated practices in Federal and State governments in the U.S., etc.

Just for the sake of argument, wouldn’t it be refreshing if it were to turn out that good architecting practices can be applied effectively to young enterprises on their way up the growth and maturity cycle – a sort of nurturing practice, rather than strictly governance and remediation?

It turns out that there actually is such a practice, and it is creating a lot of buzz in the entrepreneurial community. I say “such a practice” even though I doubt its leaders and practitioners think of themselves as business architects or enterprise architects. There has been a bit of discussion about the synergy among these practice areas on the #bizarch, #busarch, and #entarch hashtags, and I think it’s worth pursuing.

So what is this mysterious practice? It is exemplified in a book called Business Model Generation, by Alexander Osterwalder and Yves Pigneur. In a nutshell, the approach is a kind of guided brainstorming through the issues that confront new and young enterprises, such as their offerings, markets, partner webs, etc. The heart of the method is a standard “canvas” that lays out the big issue areas, to be filled in by the combination of decisions, initiatives, and structures that the entrepreneurial team is working itself through in the early phases of the enterprise.

As Dave Britton says in his newsletter, “The Business Model Canvas offers you powerful, simple, tested tools for understanding, designing, reworking, and implementing business models … to systematically understand, design, and implement a new business model — or analyze and renovate an old one”The reason I bring this up on this forum is that I regard this as a form of Business Architecture (capital B and A as befits a professional formality). This is business architecture for the young and fresh, in the sense of architecting vital aspects of the enterprise from its very inception.

A start-up is not a Mini-Me version of its later self as an established company. A start-up is more like an infant human than like a tiny corporate titan. The organization structures and processes appropriate in the early days should be structures and processes that lead to the next level of maturity and growth, and the next, and the one after that. So the kind of conceptual framework offered by the Business Model Generation approach is all about setting enterprises off on a productive path, supported by structured but open thinking cultivated by Osterwalder’s team and fans.

If companies start thinking architecturally about themselves in their infancy, they will be predisposed to have later success with more mature methods in the EA and BA playbooks (Steve Haeckel’s adaptive enterprise framework, Mary Adams and the knowledge factory, Verna Allee’s value networks, LEAN, ITIL, SOA, you name it). And, as a corollary, these other methods and intervention approaches will not be taken randomly or desperately, but rather developmentally within an overall understanding of the natural maturation process of any organization.

At a minimum, I think it is a fruitful investment of time for business architects to add Business Model Generation to their tool kits. It would also be nice to see the EA and BA practices spread into the ranks of the young and supple, and not simply as therapy for those at the head table of the long feast of institutional growth.

Similar Resources

Understanding the Difference Between a Certificate and Certification

Understanding the Difference Between a Certificate and Certification

Author(s):

Editor & Founder, BPMInstitute.org, BAInstitute.org and DBIZInstitute.org

As professionals seek to advance their careers or pivot to new fields, understanding the variety of learning and credentialing options is essential. At BPMInstitute.org, we often encounter students wondering whether they should pursue a certificate or certification in Business Process Management (BPM). This article is designed to clarify the differences, highlight the benefits of each, and guide prospective students in making the best decision for their career goals.

Enhancing Your Team’s BPM Capabilities: The Value of External Expertise

Enhancing Your Team’s BPM Capabilities: The Value of External Expertise

Author(s):

Editor & Founder, BPMInstitute.org, BAInstitute.org and DBIZInstitute.org

Enhancing Your Team's BPM Capabilities: The Value of External Expertise In today’s dynamic business environment, managing and improving business processes is critical for any organization aiming to maintain a competitive edge. Many companies consider handling Business...

Exploring Shared Data Model and Notation (SDMN) and Its Role in BPM+

Exploring Shared Data Model and Notation (SDMN) and Its Role in BPM+

Author(s):

Editor & Founder, BPMInstitute.org, BAInstitute.org and DBIZInstitute.org

Exploring Shared Data Model and Notation (SDMN) and Its Role in BPM+ Introduction In the evolving landscape of Business Process Management (BPM), the introduction of Shared Data Model Notation (SDMN) marks a significant advancement. As businesses increasingly seek to...

Featured Certificate: BPM Specialist

Everyone starts here.

You're looking for a way to improve your process improvement skills, but you're not sure where to start.

Earning your Business Process Management Specialist (BPMS) Certificate will give you the competitive advantage you need in today's world. Our courses help you deliver faster and makes projects easier.

Your skills will include building hierarchical process models, using tools to analyze and assess process performance, defining critical process metrics, using best practice principles to redesign processes, developing process improvement project plans, building a center of excellence, and establishing process governance.

The BPMS Certificate is the perfect way to show employers that you are serious about business process management. With in-depth knowledge of process improvement and management, you'll be able to take your business career to the next level.

Learn more about the BPM Specialist Certificate

Courses

  •  

 

Certificates

  • Business Process Management Specialist
  • Earning your Business Process Management Specialist (BPMS) Certificate will provide you with a distinct competitive advantage in today’s rapidly evolving business landscape. With in-depth knowledge of process improvement and management, you’ll be able to take your business career to the next level.
  • BPM Professional Certificate
    Business Process Management Professional
  • Earning your Business Process Management Professional (BPMP) Certificate will elevate your expertise and professional standing in the field of business process management. Our BPMP Certificate is a tangible symbol of your achievement, demonstrating your in-depth knowledge of process improvement and management.

Certification

BPM Certification

  • Make the most of your hard-earned skills. Earn the respect of your peers and superiors with Business Process Management Certification from the industry's top BPM educational organization.

Courses

 

Certificates

  • Operational Excellence Specialist
  • Earning your Operational Excellence Specialist Certificate will provide you with a distinct advantage in driving organizational excellence and achieving sustainable improvements in performance.
 

 

OpEx Professional Certificate

  • Operational Excellence Professional
  • Earn your Operational Excellence Professional Certificate and gain a competitive edge in driving organizational excellence and achieving sustainable improvements in performance.

Courses

Certificate
  •  

  • Agile BPM Specialist
  • Earn your Agile BPM Specialist Certificate and gain a competitive edge in driving business process management (BPM) with agile methodologies. You’ll gain a strong understanding of how to apply agile principles and concepts to business process management initiatives.  
 

Business Architecture

 

Certificates

  • Business Architecture Specialist
  • The Business Architecture Specialist (BAIS) Certificate is proof that you’ve begun your business architecture journey by committing to the industry’s most meaningful and credible business architecture training program.

  • Business Architecture Professional
  • When you earn your Business Architecture Professional (BAIP) Certificate, you will be able to design and implement a governance structure for your organization, develop and optimize business processes, and manage business information effectively.

BA CertificationCertification

  • Make the most of your hard-earned skills. Earn the respect of your peers and superiors with Business Architecture Certification from the industry's top BPM educational organization.

Courses

 

Certificates

  • Digital Transformation Specialist
  • Earning your Digital Transformation Specialist Certificate will provide you with a distinct advantage in today’s rapidly evolving business landscape. 
 

 

  • Digital Transformation Professional
  • The Digital Transformation Professional Certificate is the first program in the industry to cover all the key pillars of Digital Transformation holistically with practical recommendations and exercises.

Courses

Certificate

  • Agile Business Analysis Specialist
  • Earning your Agile Business Analysis Specialist Certificate will provide you with a distinct advantage in the world of agile software development.

Courses

Certificate
  • DAS Certificate
  • Decision Automation Specialist
  • Earning your Decision Automation Certificate will empower you to excel in the dynamic field of automated decision-making, where data-driven insights are pivotal to driving business innovation and efficiency.