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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
98 of 101 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting, easy read,
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This review is from: Business Model Generation: A Handbook for Visionaries, Game Changers, and Challengers (Paperback)
This book is very different as a business book. Instead of being filled with dense, usually overly wordy pages, it is beautifully laid out, the wording is kept to a minimum, and there are lots of illustrations.
The book is focused on ways to think of the model for your business... with some nice guidelines for structuring the thought process... as well as a bunch of examinations of different types of businesses. It has good discussions on thinking through what is critical for the business, where the cost structures are, where the benefits are, and how to organize and present those ideas. It also has a number of cases studies of various companies that changed or invented new business models, such as Amazon's introduction of Web Services. The book is fast to read, and there were several sections I bookmarked to put into use in my company, which to me is always a good sign for a book. Where the book is lacking is that I would really have liked more case studies -- a bit more meat so to speak -- once a company came up with the new model, how did the artifacts of the book's discussions come into play with the execution? Did any of the techniques discussed help with the inevitable pitfalls associated? What are some case studies for when people tried the techniques discussed and failed miserably? Innovator's Dilemma, by comparison, does a much better look at both positive and negative case studies, which can provide a lot more learning. I also would have liked more depth on the blue ocean discussion. Altogether though, an interesting read and a good addition to my management book shelf.
87 of 93 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Brilliant Book: easy and fun to read,
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This review is from: Business Model Generation: A Handbook for Visionaries, Game Changers, and Challengers (deluxe version) (Hardcover)
This is an absolutely superb book and my first and only book on business models. It is so up to date and filled with gems that I feel no need to read another anytime soon.
The book is aptly titled, being all about how to generate business models. However, you have to know what it is before you can generate it. To this end, the first section of the book is devoted to introducing a standard language and format for talking about business models. They introduce nine key items which serve as the building blocks for all business models. These are listed below, illustrated with Skype's business model. CUSTOMER SEGMENTS: Who will use the product? 1) web users globally 2) people who want to call phones VALUE PROPOSITION: Why will they use the product? 1) free Internet and video calling 2) cheap calls to phones (SkypeOut) CHANNELS: How will the product be delivered to the customers? [...] and headset partnerships CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIPS: how will you develop and maintain contact with your customers in each segment? Mass customizedMass customized REVENUE STREAMS: How is revenue generated from which customer segments? 1) Free 2) SkypeOut prepaid or subscription ACTIVITIES: What are the key things that you need to do to create and deliver the product? Software development RESOURCES: What assets are required to create and deliver the product? PARTNERS: Who will you want to partner with (e.g suppliers, outsourcing) Payment providers, Distribution partners, Telco Partners COST STRUCTURE: What are the main sources of cost required to create and deliver the product? Software development, complaint management These building blocks are laid out on a page in a very specific way, referred to as a "business model canvas". As each chapter unfolds, we get a clearer and clearer understanding of each building block and how to use them to create, evaluate and communicate business models. The business model canvas can be used to describe any of a wide variety of business models. Patterns emerge which correspond to categories of business models. For example, the Long Tail business model is all about selling less of more. The focus is on "offering a large number of niche products, each of which sells relatively infrequently". This pattern is illustrated with the transformation of the book publishing industry and Netflix. Another example is the so-called "Freemium" business model used by Skype and countless other Internet businesses. This is compared with the standard Telco model making the two models easy to compare. A similar analysis compares the traditional computer gaming model used by Sony and Microsoft which competes on high performance with Nintendo's Wii business model which focuses on casual gamers and a dramatic reduction in development costs. Visualizing these alternatives on a canvas is very powerful (much easier than the above lists). The Freemium model is a special case of a more general "multi-sided market" pattern which "brings together two or more distinct but interdependent groups of customers". For example, Google gives away a variety of services to one customer segment, the average web user, and earn income from keyword auctions from advertisers, which comprise the other side of the pattern. As is typical with the multi-sided market pattern, the key resource is the platform which facilitates interactions between the two customer segments. Another major section of the book is devoted to designing business models. Very explicit instructions and tips are given in the context of an overall process. Different phases include: gathering customer insights, ideation/brainstorming, visual thinking, prototyping, storytelling and scenarios. A major section on strategy includes a section on how to evaluate existing business models, identifying problems, and brainstorming about possible solutions. Nintendo's Wii is featured. One problem with the traditional gaming model is that consoles are sold at a loss to a relatively small market. By eliminating the huge cost of gaming platform development and adding motion-controlled games with a family focus, the market grew much larger. The design and layout of the book is equally delightful. It is a cross between a Powerpoint pitch and a regular book, and is easy and fun to read. The only negative I can think of is the binding. I don't know the lingo, but basically, the front and back (hard) covers are not directly connected to each other. Between them are the sewn and glued sections of the book that are normally hidden. Unfortunately, the book seems to be flimsy. But this is a minor niggle. Overall, this is a brilliant book. If you have any interest in business models, get it as soon as you can. I got mine by chance on a recent trip to Europe while visiting a colleague. I saw that it was not available yet in the US, so he traded me for my copy of an equally excellent book: The new business road test: What entrepreneurs and executives should do before writing a business plan (2nd Edition).
46 of 47 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
A Good Place to Start,
By Ken Rider (East Coast) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Business Model Generation: A Handbook for Visionaries, Game Changers, and Challengers (Paperback)
"Business Model Generation" is a breezy read and a well-organized introduction to several related topics including: basic types of business models, techniques and strategies for generating ideas and thinking creatively about them, along with process steps for moving good ideas forward.
PROS: Anyone new to these topics would likely have to read four to six separate books to get the broad coverage you'll find here. The authors have done a service for folks who want to come up to speed more quickly and each chapter has additional references for further reading. The designers also deserve some credit for a creative and varied layout that makes the text seem fresher and more enjoyable. You can feel good about yourself as you plow through 50+ pages in half an hour without fatigue. The bonus: this is a business book that won't have you drowning in business jargon. CONS: As several reviewers have noted, there's breadth here but not as much depth on the core topics as some might want. Those expecting more may be disappointed and some may find the title a bit misleading. Probably more accurate if they called it "A *PRIMER* for Business Model Generation" instead of a Handbook. Finally, the small font sizes that a few reviewers mentioned will surely be difficult to read for those with less-than-great eyesight. The tradeoff here, given the book's open design, is that a bigger font might have added a bunch more pages.
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