Stefan F. Dieffenbacher
Founder & CEO
Working with some of the largest global companies in the world, Stefan is a highly recognized industry thought leader in innovation & transformation.
Tools & Models/Understanding Context
You don’t create Value Propositions or Business Models in a vacuum. This critical canvas helps you understand the larger context in which you are operating.
The authors
Founder & CEO
Working with some of the largest global companies in the world, Stefan is a highly recognized industry thought leader in innovation & transformation.
Corporate Executive
A deal-making expert having led significant M&A transactions; business leader having built and led significant H1 and H2 businesses with portfolio values above £8bn; innovator who likes to re-imagine the world we live in having successfully launched a global EdTech.
The package
The case
You don’t innovate in a vacuum. Understanding the larger context in which you want to operate is crucial. This canvas allows you to visualize the different aspects of your business environment. Just as the Extended Business Model Canvas creates another layer beyond your Business Model, this expands your view even further to understand the external world you are operating in.
The mechanics
The Business Model Environment tool is organized into two key areas: emerging trends and disruptive forces. These areas surround the Business Model Canvas because they are the factors influencing the Business Model you design. Unlike the Business Model itself, over which you have full control, external forces represent design constraints that you have to work with. Using it is simple: Basically, you get to play the “what if?” game. Go through each of the areas and simply ask yourself the tough questions. For example, in the societal and cultural trends: “How is this key technology trend affecting us?” Or with regards to regulatory trends: “What will change when this new rule/legislation comes into effect?” Understanding the design constraints on your Business Model is becoming even more important as the rate of change accelerates. If you don't have a strong sense of the ways that your context is changing, you will not be able to anticipate and adapt fast enough to keep your business afloat.
The purpose
What is the goal of the model?
Clarity on your operating context. The UNITE Business Model Environment Canvas will allow you to describe and analyze the design constraints for your business and identify opportunities for innovation in that environment.
What people say
Richard Cobie, CEOReviewed on 15 July 2022
★★★★★Recommended as a purchase, worth the investment!
I completely re-evaluated the role of innovation in business growth: before reading this book I have to admit I thought it only entailed product new features and technologies enhancements, while now I see it has everything to do with meeting customer needs and uncovering a business USP, which automatically translates in sales! Could not recommend it more!
Janette Lavalier, Innovation Professor and ConsultantReviewed on 15 July 2022
★★★★★Recommended as a purchase, worth the investment!
Unlike most business innovation books I read over the last years (and even decades) when reading How to create innovation you immediately understand the authors have been there, innovating and transforming some of the world’s most amazing brands. Great work!
Karl Meckel, Change Development ManagerReviewed on 18 July 2022
★★★★★Recommended as a purchase, worth the investment!
Not only this book offers the most comprehensive innovation and business change overview but it really helps you take the next step, driving you step by step from theory to practice (also with super useful background notes and driving questions)
Franz Hellstrom, Head of CultureReviewed on 2 Aug 2022
★★★★★Recommended as a purchase, worth the investment!
I really enjoyed the whole book, but mostly the culture chapter, mainly because I always failed to acknowledge its major role in favouring or inhibiting business growth. Loved the graphics that helped connect all the dots in a visually appealing (and way easier) way.
Satoru Fukuda, Chief Strategy OfficerReviewed on 13 Aug 2022
★★★★★Recommended as a purchase, worth the investment!
We’been willing to innovate our business for some years now, but then we always got stuck before we even started, because basically we had no idea where to start…This book helped us do just that: find the right starting point with guiding questions and an incredibly comprehensive innovation overview.
Work with the inventors
Work with the inventors. Building on a wealth of experience. Increase your competitive advantage and work with industry thought leaders. We are here to help.
In practice
We successfully apply the models we created in our services
We support organizations to grow their innovation capability globally.
Learn moreWe will help you better understand your customer and create more enganging product and service experiences.
Learn moreThe key is bridging the infamous strategy-execution gap. We enable organizations to execute a transformation successfully.
Learn moreThousands of organizations leverage the UNITE models — these are some of them …
Go further
The following tools and models support the one you are exploring. If you’re ready to go further, check them out. Download the models below and continue your journey …
Strategy
The Assessment of Strategic Moves shows us that risks increase with additional steps away from the current economic core ...
Value Proposition
The Value Proposition Canvas provides a framework that centers your customers. It supports understanding the problem your customer is truly trying to solve so that…
Business Model
A product is only as good as the Business Model (BM) that supports it, and creating an innovative product requires an equally innovative BM.
By subject
Every day
We at Digital Leadership work on Innovation and Transformation related projects every day. Reach out do discuss how we can support you!
We build digital winners. It’s what we are made for. Let’s create winning digital businesses – together.
Stefan F. DieffenbacherFounder & Managing Director of Digital Leadership
