Business model

A business model (also called a business design) is the mechanism by which a
business intends to generate revenue and profits. A Business model is a
summary of how a company plans to serve its customers. It involves both
strategy and implementation. It is the totality of:

   * How it will select its customers
   * How it defines and differentiates its product offerings
   * How it creates utility for its customers
   * How it acquires and keeps customers
   * How it goes to the market ( promotion strategy and distribution strategy)
   * How it defines the tasks to be performed
   * How it configures its resources
   * How it captures profit

Types of business models

Generally, the business models of service firms are more complex than for
manufacturers and resellers. The oldest and most basic business model is the
shop keeper model. This involves setting up a store in a location where
potential customers are likely to be and displaying a product or service.

Over the years, business models have become much more sophisticated. Early
in the last century we saw the introduction of the bait and hook business
model (also referred to as the razor and blades business model or the tied
products model). This involves offering a basic product at a very low cost,
often at a loss (This is the bait.), then charging excessive amounts for
refills or associated products or services (This is the hook). Examples
include : razor (bait) and blades (hook); cell phones (bait) and air time
(hook); computer printers (bait) and ink cartridge refills (hook); and
cameras (bait) and prints (hook). An interesting variant of this model is a
software developer that gives away its word processor reader for free but
charges several hundred dollars for its word processor writer.

In the 1950s new business models came from McDonald's Restaurants and from
Toyota. In the 1960s the innovators were Wal-Mart and Hypermarkets. The
1970s saw new business models from Federal Express and from Toys R Us; the
1980s from Blockbuster, Home Depot, Intel, and Dell; the 1990s from
SouthWest Air, eBay, Amazon, and Starbucks. Poorly thought out business
models were a problem with many dot-coms. Each of these business model
innovations can gave the firm a sustainable competitive advantage. But times
are changing and companies must continuously rethink their business design.
Companies must change their business models as value migrates from industry
to industry. Ultimately the success or failure of a company depends first on
how well its business design matches their customers' priorities.

How to - Physics - History - Companies - Internet - Video Games - List of Phobias - September 11, 2001
Radio - Timelines - Chemistry - Genealogy - Family - Film - SARS - Cancer - Medicine - DVD - Calendar
Countries - Disease - Health Science - Dentistry - Economics - AIDS - Law - Autism - Statistics - Bible
Recipes - Architecture - Computers - History of the Internet - Personal computer - Apple Macintosh
War - Presidents of the United States - United States Constitution - Universe - Philosophy - Animals
Biology - United States Constitution - Marketing Topics - Sports - Television - History of Computing

Flights - Mobile Phones - Credit Card Consolidation - Wedding rings - Art Prints