methodatlas
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Plan my session

Plan a concrete work block with agenda, roles, preparation, and a copyable result artifact.

Method session1-2 hWorkshop or asyncBusiness Model Canvas

Session: Business Model Canvas

The plan translates the method into a concrete facilitated work block. Your inputs flow directly into the session brief and work artifact.

Derived automatically

Method session with 2-8. The plan uses the existing method logic and the runsheet.

Runsheet
Participation logic
Team round, shared work and alignment

Use the session for shared understanding. Contributions are collected visibly, assumptions are aligned, and open differences remain traceable in the artifact.

Outcome logic
Finish artifact

The session works directly toward Business Model Canvas. After the session, the artifact should be shareable, reviewable, or reusable.

  1. 1

    Phase 1: Scope and customer segments

    15 min

    Clarify the scope (which business model, which year). Name customer segments concretely, with one sub-persona per segment. Use different colors for multiple segments. Hint: If all segments are just 'B2B' or 'end customers', the canvas is too coarse. Two or three specific segments are better than one generic one.

    FacilitatorBusiness Model Canvas
  2. 2

    Phase 2: Value propositions

    15 min

    Formulate one value proposition per segment. Derive it from the VPC if available. Clear value, no marketing language. Hint: Multiple value propositions per segment usually mean the segments should be split further. The goal is one strong VP per segment.

    FacilitatorAssumption List
  3. 3

    Phase 3: Channels and customer relationships

    15 min

    Channels: how do we reach the segment (acquisition) and how do we deliver value (delivery)? Customer relationships: what is the relationship like (self-service, account management, community)? Hint: Channels are often too generic ('web', 'direct sales'). Be specific: which channel covers which phase (acquisition, selection, purchase, after-sales).

    FacilitatorBusiness Hypotheses
  4. 4

    Phase 4: Revenue streams

    10 min

    Define the revenue mechanism per segment: pricing model, price, frequency, willingness to pay. List multiple streams separately. Hint: If revenue is estimated without evidence from market or tests, mark it as a hypothesis. 'Customers pay EUR 49/month' without validation is an assumption, not a fact.

    FacilitatorBusiness Model Canvas
  5. 5

    Phase 5: Key resources, activities, partners

    20 min

    Resources: what do we need physically, financially, humanly, and in IP terms? Activities: what must we do ourselves? Partners: what do others do for us (suppliers, alliances)? Hint: Key activities are the core activities that cannot be outsourced. If everything is key, focus is unclear. Max 5 key activities.

    FacilitatorAssumption List
  6. 6

    Phase 6: Cost structure and stress test

    15 min

    Name the top 5 cost drivers and mark them fixed vs. variable. Stress test: mark the most critical assumptions in red and move the top 3 into the experiment backlog. Hint: The cost block is often overlooked. Without understanding the cost structure, no unit economics can be derived and the model is not decisionable.

    OwnerBusiness Hypotheses
  7. 7

    Publish artifact

    10 min

    Check the artifact for completeness, define location, set version or status, and name review recipients.

    OwnerBusiness Model Canvas
Usable artifact

Session Brief

For invitations, boards, tickets, PR descriptions, or workshop notes.

session-brief.md

Session Brief: Business Model Canvas

Goal

Artifact: Business Model Canvas

Working Question

How does the business model create, deliver, and capture value, and which assumptions should be checked first?

Context

Existing business model description if available; market and competitor data; current revenue and cost structure; known assumptions and risks; Value Proposition Canvas if available.

Setup

  • Format: Method session
  • Duration: 1-2 h
  • Mode: Workshop or async
  • Participants: One strategy or business leadership representative as owner; facilitator; 3-6 people from strategy, product, sales, finance, and operations.
  • Owner: One strategy or business leadership representative as owner
  • Participation mode: Team round, shared work and alignment
  • Outcome logic: Finish artifact

Participation Logic

Use the session for shared understanding. Contributions are collected visibly, assumptions are aligned, and open differences remain traceable in the artifact.

Outcome Logic

The session works directly toward Business Model Canvas. After the session, the artifact should be shareable, reviewable, or reusable.

Input

Business Model Canvas template (Strategyzer format) as an A1 printout or digital board with 9 blocks (Key Partners, Key Activities, Key Resources, Value Propositions, Customer Relationships, Channels, Customer Segments, Cost Structure, Revenue Streams); sticky notes in colors per block; markers.

Preparation

Place the canvas on a shared surface. Give the fill order (1 Customer Segments, 2 Value Propositions, 3 Channels, 4 Customer Relationships, 5 Revenue Streams, 6 Key Resources, 7 Key Activities, 8 Key Partners, 9 Cost Structure). Set the timer to 75 min.

Agenda

  1. Phase 1: Scope and customer segments (15 min) Owner: Facilitator Action: Clarify the scope (which business model, which year). Name customer segments concretely, with one sub-persona per segment. Use different colors for multiple segments. Hint: If all segments are just 'B2B' or 'end customers', the canvas is too coarse. Two or three specific segments are better than one generic one. Output: Business Model Canvas

  2. Phase 2: Value propositions (15 min) Owner: Facilitator Action: Formulate one value proposition per segment. Derive it from the VPC if available. Clear value, no marketing language. Hint: Multiple value propositions per segment usually mean the segments should be split further. The goal is one strong VP per segment. Output: Assumption List

  3. Phase 3: Channels and customer relationships (15 min) Owner: Facilitator Action: Channels: how do we reach the segment (acquisition) and how do we deliver value (delivery)? Customer relationships: what is the relationship like (self-service, account management, community)? Hint: Channels are often too generic ('web', 'direct sales'). Be specific: which channel covers which phase (acquisition, selection, purchase, after-sales). Output: Business Hypotheses

  4. Phase 4: Revenue streams (10 min) Owner: Facilitator Action: Define the revenue mechanism per segment: pricing model, price, frequency, willingness to pay. List multiple streams separately. Hint: If revenue is estimated without evidence from market or tests, mark it as a hypothesis. 'Customers pay EUR 49/month' without validation is an assumption, not a fact. Output: Business Model Canvas

  5. Phase 5: Key resources, activities, partners (20 min) Owner: Facilitator Action: Resources: what do we need physically, financially, humanly, and in IP terms? Activities: what must we do ourselves? Partners: what do others do for us (suppliers, alliances)? Hint: Key activities are the core activities that cannot be outsourced. If everything is key, focus is unclear. Max 5 key activities. Output: Assumption List

  6. Phase 6: Cost structure and stress test (15 min) Owner: Owner Action: Name the top 5 cost drivers and mark them fixed vs. variable. Stress test: mark the most critical assumptions in red and move the top 3 into the experiment backlog. Hint: The cost block is often overlooked. Without understanding the cost structure, no unit economics can be derived and the model is not decisionable. Output: Business Hypotheses

  7. Publish artifact (10 min) Owner: Owner Action: Check the artifact for completeness, define location, set version or status, and name review recipients. Output: Business Model Canvas

Closeout

  • Update result artifact: Business Model Canvas
  • Define location, version, and review recipients.
  • Define owner, next step, and review date.
Usable artifact

Work artifact

Pre-filled starting point based on the matching template.

work-artifact.md

Business Model Canvas: Business Model Canvas

Working Question

How does the business model create, deliver, and capture value, and which assumptions should be checked first?

Context

Existing business model description if available; market and competitor data; current revenue and cost structure; known assumptions and risks; Value Proposition Canvas if available.

Participants

  • Owner: One strategy or business leadership representative as owner
  • Participants: One strategy or business leadership representative as owner; facilitator; 3-6 people from strategy, product, sales, finance, and operations.

Input

Business Model Canvas template (Strategyzer format) as an A1 printout or digital board with 9 blocks (Key Partners, Key Activities, Key Resources, Value Propositions, Customer Relationships, Channels, Customer Segments, Cost Structure, Revenue Streams); sticky notes in colors per block; markers.

Template

Business Model Canvas Working Template

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

  • Business Model Canvas:
  • Assumption List:
  • Business Hypotheses:

Open questions

  • ...

Next step

Owner, date, success signal.

Completion Check

  • Business Model Canvas is complete enough for review:
  • Location:
  • Version / status:
  • Review by:
  • Next step:

Next Step

  • Review result
  • Mark open questions
  • Schedule review or decision
Template base

Business Model Canvas Working Template

View templateCompact working template for Business Model Canvas with context, input, output artifacts, and next step.
canvas

business-model-canvas-working-template.md

Compact working template for Business Model Canvas with context, input, output artifacts, and next step.

Business Model Canvas Working Template

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

  • Business Model Canvas:
  • Assumption List:
  • Business Hypotheses:

Open questions

  • ...

Next step

Owner, date, success signal.

Ready to use when
  • Working question, owner, and target artifact are visible.
  • The result fits Business Model Canvas.
  • Create a separate version per model iteration with date. For larger pivots (new segment, new revenue stream), create a new version. Keep old versions for history. Put assumption status (validated / disproven / open) in the header.
  • Open questions are noted as follow-ups.
  • The next review or decision point is scheduled.
ProfileRunsheet