methodatlas
Business Strategy

Blue Ocean Strategy Canvas

Clarifies starting point, opportunities, and strategic options by defining the competitive factors, drawing the current value curve, and testing a new value curve.

Core question
Which competitive factors can we reduce or eliminate, which can we raise or create, in order to build a distinct value curve?
MediumWorkshop2-4 h
Open runsheetPlan sessionStart comparison
Purpose

The method helps clarify starting point, opportunities, and strategic options concretely. It compares strengths, risks, market logic, and action options. The result is captured as a Strategy Canvas, Value Curve, and ERRC Actions.

How it works

The team follows the steps: define competitive factors, draw the current value curves, identify differentiation gaps, derive ERRC actions, and test a new value curve. Each step is captured visibly. At the end, a Strategy Canvas, Value Curve, and ERRC Actions are available so decisions, tests, or actions can follow directly.

Visual orientation

Method sketch for a quick mental model.

Blue Ocean Strategy Canvas · Wertkurven und ERRCWettbewerbsfaktoren vergleichen, Differenzierungsräume finden und ERRC-Aktionen ableiten
Blue Ocean Strategy CanvasDie Skizze zeigt Wettbewerbsfaktoren, rote und blaue Wertkurve, einen Differenzierungsraum und ERRC-Aktionen.Wertkurven vergleichen und neuen Marktraum öffnenWettbewerbsfaktoren sichtbar machen, Lücken erkennen und ERRC-Aktionen ableiten.DifferenzierungsraumhochniedrigAngebotsniveauWettbewerbsfaktorenPreisAuswahlServiceKomfortStatusEinfachheitCommunityRoter Ozeanähnliche WertkurveBlauer Ozeanneue NachfrageEliminatewas streichen?Reducewas verringern?Raisewas erhöhen?Createwas neu schaffen?

Flow

  1. 1Define competitive factors
  2. 2Draw the current value curves
  3. 3Identify differentiation gaps
  4. 4Derive ERRC actions
  5. 5Test a new value curve

The runsheet guides execution with 5 phases, timeboxes, 6 pitfalls, and clear stop criteria.

Open runsheet

Ideal for

  • Business Model Innovation
  • Positioning
  • Market Strategy

Not good for

  • Operational process steering
  • Technical detail decisions

Deep dive

In detail

Blue Ocean Strategy Canvas follows a clear working logic: define competitive factors, draw the current value curves, identify differentiation gaps, derive ERRC actions, and test a new value curve. This turns the method into a visible thinking process rather than only a conversation. Participants move step by step from raw material, observations, or options toward a shared structure. The result is a Strategy Canvas, Value Curve, and ERRC Actions that make decisions, learning, or further planning actionable.

Facilitation

Prepare a clear guiding question, the right information, and a visible workspace. Plan about 2-4 h with 3-10 people and use the format in a facilitated workshop. The facilitation needs noticeable structure and preparation; short timeboxes, visible intermediate results, and a parking lot for open questions help.

Output artifacts
Strategy CanvasValue CurveERRC Actions
Tags
strategypositioninginnovationvalue

Sources

Strategy Canvas | Blue Ocean Strategy Tools and Frameworksblueoceanstrategy.com
Artifact templates
Blue Ocean Strategy Canvas Working TemplateCompact working template for Blue Ocean Strategy Canvas with context, input, output artifacts, and next step.
canvas

blue-ocean-strategy-canvas-working-template.md

Compact working template for Blue Ocean Strategy Canvas with context, input, output artifacts, and next step.

Blue Ocean Strategy Canvas Canvas

Context

What is this method used for?

Core question

Which question should be answered at the end?

Input

Which data, observations, or materials are available?

Working area

  • Area 1:
  • Area 2:
  • Area 3:
  • Relationships / patterns:

Output artifacts

  • Strategy Canvas:
  • Value Curve:
  • ERRC Actions:

Open questions

  • ...

Next step

Owner, date, success signal.

When to choose differently

Short decision aid for existing alternatives.

Value Proposition Canvas

Statt Blue Ocean Strategy Canvas, wenn du mit Value Proposition Canvas Nutzenversprechen und Kundenaufgaben aufeinander abgleichen willst.

Similar methods

All methods
Business Strategy
Business Model Canvas

Turns starting assumptions, opportunities, and strategic options into a tangible result by defining scope, filling the nine blocks, and developing alternatives.

Business Strategy
Ansoff Matrix

Clarifies starting point, opportunities, and strategic options by defining products and markets, collecting growth options, and choosing focus options.

Business Strategy
Three Horizons

Structures current business, emerging growth fields, and future options across three horizons so portfolio decisions can balance today, tomorrow, and later.

Business Strategy
Value Chain Analysis

Moves the current situation, opportunities, and strategic options toward a concrete result through "explain the nine-activity template", "describe primary activities", and "derive levers and weaknesses".

Business Strategy
SWOT Analysis

Turns the current situation, opportunities, and strategic options into a tangible result through defining scope, collecting strengths and weaknesses, and defining actions.

Business Strategy
PESTLE Analysis

Clarifies starting point, opportunities, and strategic options by defining the scope and market, gathering factors by category, and formulating strategic questions.