Uncover overlooked opportunities and weak points in your Business Strategy—fast.
Combine Value Chain Analysis and the Business Model Canvas.
In today’s business landscape, companies that collaborate—internally and externally—are the ones winning.
Businesses that engage cross-functional teams and utilize their ecosystem can gain a competitive edge. That’s where Value Chain Analysis and the Business Model Canvas come in.
These two strategic tools help small to medium business owners clarify their strengths, uncover weaknesses, and build a more resilient, scalable business model — fast. Whether you’re focusing on growth, innovation, or long-term transformation, this approach ensures your business adapts and thrives.
Here’s how to apply both tools to your business strategy—fast and effectively.
Watch the video here instead.
Step 1:
Map Your Value Chain to Reveal How Your Business Actually Works
A Value Chain Analysis is a visual breakdown of how value flows through your business ecosystem. It goes beyond cash flow, helping you see where value is created, exchanged, and potentially lost.
How to Conduct a Value Chain Analysis
Gather the Right Team: Choose three to seven people from different parts of your business. Diverse viewpoints = better insights.
Map Your Value Chain: Identify all entities involved—suppliers, partners, distributors, and customers. I created these workflows in Miro, Identify Non-Cash Value Exchanges: Consider data, intellectual property, brand reputation, or customer loyalty. These hidden forms of value are often the key to long-term competitive advantage.
Refine the Value Map: Take your time here. The clearer your value chain, the better your business decisions will be.
Once you have a detailed value chain, you’re ready to expand your insights with the Business Model Canvas.
Step 2:
Build a Business Model Canvas to Identify Gaps and Opportunities
The Business Model Canvas, created by Alexander Osterwalder, is a simple yet powerful tool that helps you see how your business creates, delivers, and captures value.
Think of it as a high-level sketch of your business strategy that shows where you should focus to improve, grow, or innovate.
How to Create a Business Model Canvas (Step-by-Step Guide)
Define Key Partners – Who plays a major role in your value chain? (Suppliers, affiliates, distribution partners, etc.)
List Key Activities – What does your business do that directly delivers value to customers?
Clarify Your Value Proposition – What unique value does your business offer? How do you stand out from competitors?
Outline Customer Relationships – How do you engage and retain customers?
Map Out Your Channels – What marketing and sales channels bring customers into your business?
Identify Cost Structure – What are your biggest expenses in delivering this model?
Define Revenue Streams – Where does your revenue come from? How can it grow?
At this stage, don’t over complicate it. You’re just getting clarity on your business model—not solving every problem yet.
Step 3:
Identify Weak Points, Risks, and Opportunities for Growth
Too many businesses stop at defining their business model. But the real power comes from digging into risks and weaknesses.
Here’s how to identify and strengthen weak points:
Individually, brainstorm potential risks and unknowns. Where are you making assumptions that may not be true?
What parts of your business are easily copied, difficult to defend, or operationally fragile?
Prioritize the biggest risks. Remove redundant concerns, clarify key risks, and vote on the most impactful weaknesses to address.
This step is critical for resilience—if you don’t identify potential threats now, you’ll be blindsided later.
Step 4:
Turn Insights into an Action Plan (In 30 Minutes or Less)
Now that you’ve mapped your value chain, business model, and key risks, don’t let that work sit in a folder collecting dust.
Here’s how to create a fast, actionable plan to drive results:
Assign owners and deadlines to your top action items.
Set a budget—unfunded ideas go nowhere.
Define a timeline for execution. If using structured frameworks, set check-ins every 2–4 weeks; otherwise, plan for longer implementation timelines.
Build a system to track progress— through peer meetings, software, leadership progress check-ins, or use all three.
If you need help to accelerate this process, schedule a call here or connect on LinkedIn
Shari Burk
