Business Model Generation
Alexander Osterwalder · 2010
Strategy
A Handbook for Visionaries, Game Changers, and Challengers
Alexander Osterwalder and Yves Pigneur created the Business Model Canvas — a single-page visual tool that maps the nine essential building blocks of any business. It replaced the 50-page business plan with something far more useful: a living document that teams can iterate on in real time.
Context & Background
Written with Yves Pigneur, Business Model Generation solved a fundamental problem: business plans are too long, too static, and too detailed for the early stages of business design. The Business Model Canvas provides a shared language for describing, visualizing, assessing, and changing business models.
The Business Model Canvas has nine blocks: Customer Segments, Value Propositions, Channels, Customer Relationships, Revenue Streams, Key Resources, Key Activities, Key Partnerships, and Cost Structure. The visual format makes it easy to see how the pieces fit together and to explore alternatives. The book also covers business model patterns, design techniques, and strategy.
The Business Model Canvas has been adopted by millions of entrepreneurs and thousands of companies worldwide, from startups to Fortune 500 firms. It's taught in virtually every business school and accelerator program. Osterwalder subsequently created the Value Proposition Canvas, extending the framework.
Quotes from Business Model Generation
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