Business or strategic planning is essential for organizations and projects to stay on track. It is how organizations set priorities, focus energy and resources, keep stakeholders working towards common goals, and fix directional problems. Strategic planning can also serve as a benchmark to judge performance. Continue reading
Digital Immigrants E-learning Study Includes LMS and WhatsApp
This post is provided by guest blogger, Michele Cote, graduate student at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, MS in Training and Development program.
An e-learning study was conducted at a Malaysian university of students aged 40 and older. Participants included a total of 14, two men and 12 women who agreed to participate in the study. Ch’ng Lay Kee (2020), termed the respondents as digital Continue reading
I Can See It! There’s an eLearning Course in Here Somewhere!
This post is provided by guest blogger, Sue Dumford, graduate student at the University of St Francis in Joliet, MS in Training and Development program.
In the article, What is the ADDIE Model of Instructional Design? Andrew DeBell (2020), provides us with a quick starter guide to the ADDIE process of instructional design and development. The ADDIE model is a flexible process that may be used to create any type Continue reading
Need FAQ Support? Try Chatbots!
This post is provided by guest blogger, Angelica Brodeur, graduate student University of St. Francis, MS Training and Development program
When planning e-learning projects, one of the most important aspects to consider is determining how to support learners in the e-learning environment. Learners will always need assistance navigating the e-learning system and depending on the ratio of Continue reading
When Students Succeed, So Will the Online Program
This post is provided by guest blogger, Paulette Richardson, graduate student, University of St. Francis, MS Training and Development Program.
Students must get the support they need if they are to succeed. This is especially true in an e-learning program or distance education program. In a 2019 article, Theresa Barger addresses steps to building virtual services for online students. She recommends that Continue reading
Faculty Training and Development: A Method
Pavel3d/Bigstock.com
This post is provided by guest blogger, Tricia DeFay, graduate student at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, MBA in Health Administration program.
Summary
In Cultivating Online Growth Through Leadership Training, Hall and Williams (2020) discuss how leadership training can help faculty lead their classrooms and take on future leadership roles with confidence. The authors present some key attributes which teachers should possess when pursuing leadership roles: Continue reading
A Change with Benefits
A Change with Benefits
Provided by guest blogger, Stefanie Gardner, graduate student University of St. Francis, MS Training and Development program
Today’s students are changing beyond categorizing them with the labels of “traditional” and “non-traditional.” Higher education institutions are needing to change and grow to accommodate the change in the student population. Institutions adapting to the student Continue reading
‘Big Brother’ and the Wolves
Image credit: http://anxiety-stresscenter.com/feeding-positivity/
This post is provided by guest blogger, J. Mike Condreay, graduate student at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, MS in Training and Development program.
There is a Cherokee legend that tells of two wolves. The chief tells the tale of these two wolves who fight constantly. One wolf represents evil, the other good. When the young Indian asks who wins, the old chief responds, “The one you feed” (Unknown, 2020).
As a nuclear power training manager, every aspect of the training that we provide to our operators is regulated by the federal government through the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. ‘Big Brother’ becomes one the wolves in my work life, the other being Continue reading
Cognitive Strategies, Motivation, and e-Learning Readiness
This post is provided by guest blogger, Angelica Sanchez, graduate student at the University of St. Francis, MS Training and Development program.
Keskin & Yurdugül (2020) explain the three characteristics used to determine student preferences for blended and online learning environments were self-regulated learning (SRL) strategies, motivation, and e-learning readiness. These characteristics were Continue reading
EEAM: A New Tool for Assessing E-learning
This post is provided by guest blogger, Michele Cote, graduate student at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, MS in Training and Development program.
Researchers from Tehran University of Medical Sciences and University of Tehran conducted a study of e-learning programs. The goal of the study was to develop an assessment that would gauge students’ perceptions of the e-learning environment. Both Continue reading
9 Steps to Building a Business Model Canvas
9 Steps to Building a Business Model Canvas
In a previous post, I spoke about the art and practice of strategic planning and how various models exist for helping organizations plan.
The Business Model Canvas is one such model that is available for use under the Creative Commons license. The original source of the tool can be found at Strategyzer.com.
The Business Model Canvas was originally developed by Alexander Osterwalker. He then collaborated with Professor Pigneur and 470 other entrepreneurial thinkers in 45 different countries to innovate and refine the model using shared vision and insight.
The tool is called a “canvas” because the user builds their model on one piece of paper (or often one piece of large poster board or a large white board).
The Business Model Canvas is used today in organizations all around the world. The model helps organize all of the various aspects of an organization. As you build the model, you can also use it to brainstorm ways to change, innovate, or grow your organization.
How do you use the Business Model Canvas?
The nine steps are listed below in a step-by-step guide, but these steps can actually be completed in any order.
Step-by-Step Guide to the Business Model Canvas
- Step 1: Activities
- Step 2: Resources
- Step 3: Partnerships
- Step 4: Customer (User) Segments
- Step 5: Relationships with Customers (Users)
- Step 6: Channels
- Step 7: Costs
- Step 8: Revenues
- Step 9: Value Proposition(s)
I like to think of these activities as a series of questions to ask. I have provided some sample questions for you to consider at each step. As you build your canvas, ask other questions within each category that might expand, explore, or help you think differently about the category.
Step 1: Activities
The key activities are the “most important things a company must do to make its business model work” (Osterwalder & Pigneur, 2010). I suggest starting with activities because they are often the simplest items to list.
Ask these types of questions as you build the canvas:
What are the key activities that the organization is involved in?
What types of new activities or opportunities might we consider?
Step 2: Resources
The key resources are the “most important assets required to make a business model work” (Osterwalder & Pigneur, 2010). Think of resources as both tangible and intangible; human and technological; internal and external.
What are the key resources that are involved in creating value?
Do we need to seek new resources?
Step 3: Partnerships
The key partnerships are “the network of suppliers and partners that make the business model work” (Osterwalder & Pigneur, 2010). Consider partnerships that may be internal as well as external.
What are the key partnerships involved in helping the organization run, grow, provide products or services?
What new partnerships might we consider to expand or improve?
Step 4: Customer Segments
The Customer Segment “defines the different groups of people or organizations an enterprise aims to reach and serve” (Osterwalder & Pigneur, 2010). In their book, Osterwalder & Pigneur (2010) list several types of customers such as: mass market, niche market, segmented, and diversified.
Who benefits from our organization’s products or services?
Who might benefit?
What additional segments might we consider?
Step 5: Customer Relationships
The customer relationship “describes the types of relationships a company establishes with specific customer segments” (Osterwalder & Pigneur, 2010). As you think about relationships, also consider whether or not these relationships are personal, automated, or could be fostered in different ways.
What type of relationship do we have with each of our users?
How can we create sustainable relationships?
Step 6: Channels
Channels are “how a company communicates with and reaches its customer segments to deliver a value proposition” (Osterwalder & Pigneur, 2010). These channels could be how you are advertising or reaching your market of customers.
What channels are used to deliver the value?
Are there new ways to reach our users?
Step 7: Costs
“The cost structure describes all costs incurred to operate a business model” (Osterwalder & Pigneur, 2010).
What are the cost structures?
How can we reduce cost?
Step 8: Revenues
A revenue stream “represents the cash a company generates from each customer segment” (Osterwalder & Pigneur, 2010).
What are the revenue streams?
Do we need to build new revenue streams?
Step 9: Value Proposition(s)
The value propositions are “the bundle of products and services that create value for a specific customer segment” (Osterwalder & Pigneur, 2010). I suggest reviewing value propositions at the end of the process, but it might also be useful as step one.
What is it about our organization that sets it apart from other initiatives?
Where might we expand?
Remember, the steps presented here can be completed in any order.
As you build your canvas, consider posting it on the wall so that a team of individuals can work on the canvas together. Osterwalder & Pigneur (2010) suggest using sticky note paper or white board markers. The canvases often include both words and pictures within each step of the model. It can be useful to draw arrows or connections where applicable.
Happy planning!
References:
Osterwalder, A. & Pigneur, Y. (2010). Business model generation. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
USF Training 