Introductory description

This module will describe, demonstrate and practice the use of Business Models and Business Model tools in creating, describing and analysing new business proposals.

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

What is a business model and why is it important (internal vs external) requirements
Business Models vs Business Plans
The core types of business models
Case study evaluation of different models
Osterwalder’ Model
Synthesising the elements of the model
Competitive Analysis of Business Models
Implementation issue

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Identify, describe and synthesise the key elements of a business model
• Appraise and analyse the business model generation process
• Compare and contrast different business models identifying the competitive advantage of each.
• Synthesise new business models by applying technology to enhance or modify existing business model

Indicative reading list

Business Model Generation – Alexander Osterwalder & Yves Pigneur, Published by John Wiley and Sons, ISBN 978-0470-87641-1
Running Lean – Iterate from Plan A to a plan that works – Ash Maurya Published by O’Reilly ISBN 978-1-449-30517-8
Sprint – How to solve Big Problems and test new ideas in 5 days – Jake Knapp – Bantam Press – ISBN 9780593076118
The Service Innovation Handbook – Lucy Kimbell – BIS Publishers – ISBN 9789063693534
Business Models Made Easy – Don Debelak Entrepreneur Press ISBN 1-59918-041-3
Seizing the White Space – Business Model Innovation for growth and Renewal, Mark W Johnson Harvard Business Press ISBN 978-1-4221-2481-9
The Lean Startup: How Constant Innovation Creates Radically Successful Businesses Eric Ries.
This is Service Design Thinking – Marc Stickdorn BIS Publishers, ISBN 978-90-6369-256-8
From Zero to One – Peter Thiel – Crown Business – ISBN 978-0804139298

Recommended are
The Lean Startup,
Crossing the Chasm,
Angel (the book).
Other Resources below: A couple Paul Graham essays below plus a startups site, and the Kawasaki pitch template.

• www.paulgraham.com/top
• www.paulgraham.com/ds
• www.fakegrimlock.com
• guykawasaki.com/the-only-10-slides-you-need-in-your-pitch
• https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxIJaCMEptJjxmmQgGFsnCg
• https://www.startupschool.org

View reading list on Talis Aspire

Subject specific skills

How to design an effective business model for the execution of a business idea, Design Thinking Approach to problem solving, Lean Sprint as a project management tool, Business Model Design, Competitor evaluation, Business Idea Generation & Evaluation, Empathy Mapping, Product-Market Fit, Applying The Business Model Canvas, Applying The Lean Canvas, Using Other structured methods to investigate and develop Business ideas.

Transferable skills

Communication – through presentations embedded in the module, and direction setting for the team work, Dependability – reliability in contribution during the module, Teamwork – ability to work as part of a lean sprint team, Organization – Act as Sprint Master co-ordinator and allocating work for the team, Adaptability – play different team roles in the syndicate for the class, Leadership – Leading the team in different tasks, Technology Literacy – evaluating the technology readiness for the business model designed..