10 Business Strategy Examples

Blue Ocean Player

blue-ocean-strategy
A blue ocean is a strategy where the boundaries of existing markets are redefined, and new uncontested markets are created. At its core, there is value innovation, for which uncontested markets are created, where competition is made irrelevant. And the cost-value trade-off is broken. Thus, companies following a blue ocean strategy offer much more value at a lower cost for the end customers.

Blue Sea Player

blue-sea-strategy

Constructive Disruptor

constructive-disruption
A consumer brand company like Procter & Gamble (P&G) defines “Constructive Disruption” as: a willingness to change, adapt, and create new trends and technologies that will shape our industry for the future. According to P&G, it moves around four pillars: lean innovation, brand building, supply chain, and digitalization & data analytics.

Disruptor

disruptive-innovation
Disruptive innovation as a term was first described by Clayton M. Christensen, an American academic and business consultant whom The Economist called “the most influential management thinker of his time.” Disruptive innovation describes the process by which a product or service takes hold at the bottom of a market and eventually displaces established competitors, products, firms, or alliances.

Niche player

microniche
A microniche is a subset of potential customers within a niche. In the era of dominating digital super-platforms, identifying a microniche can kick off the strategy of digital businesses to prevent competition against large platforms. As the microniche becomes a niche, then a market, scale becomes an option.

Blitzscaler

blitzscaling-business-model-innovation-canvas
The Blitzscaling business model canvas is a model based on the concept of Blitzscaling, which is a particular process of massive growth under uncertainty, and that prioritizes speed over efficiency and focuses on market domination to create a first-scaler advantage in a scenario of uncertainty.

Continuous Blitzscaler

amazon-flywheel
The Amazon Flywheel or Amazon Virtuous Cycle is a strategy that leverages on customer experience to drive traffic to the platform and third-party sellers. That improves the selections of goods, and Amazon further improves its cost structure so it can decrease prices which spins the flywheel.

Octopus

oyo-business-model
OYO business model is a mixture of platform and brand, where the company started primarily as an aggregator of homes across India, and it quickly moved to other verticals, from leisure to co-working and corporate travel. In a sort of octopus business strategy of expansion to cover the whole spectrum of short-term real estate.

Gatekeeper

gatekeepers-model
In a world driven by tech giants that are locked in the digital distribution pipelines to reach billions of people across the globe, the gatekeeper hypothesis states that small businesses will need to pass through those nodes to reach key customers. Thus, those gatekeepers become the enablers (or perhaps deterrents) for small businesses across the globe.

Surfer

duckduckgo-business-model
DuckDuckGo makes money in two simple ways: Advertising and Affiliate Marketing. Advertising is shown based on the keywords typed into the search box. Affiliate revenues come from Amazon and eBay affiliate programs. When users buy after getting on those sites through DuckDuckGo the company collects a small commission.

Key Highlights

  • Blue Ocean Player:
    • Focuses on creating new, uncontested markets.
    • Value innovation breaks the cost-value trade-off.
    • Offers more value at a lower cost, making competition irrelevant.
  • Blue Sea Player:
    • Focuses on finding a small space within an existing market that is untouched by competition.
    • Kicks off a business and validates the idea within a microniche.
  • Constructive Disruptor:
    • Involves changing, adapting, and creating new trends and technologies.
    • Centers around lean innovation, brand building, supply chain, and digitalization.
  • Disruptor:
    • Describes a process by which a product or service starts at the bottom of a market and displaces established competitors over time.
  • Niche Player:
    • Focuses on a subset of potential customers within a niche.
    • Can expand to become a market as it gains scale.
  • Blitzscaler:
    • Prioritizes rapid growth under uncertainty.
    • Focuses on market domination and first-scaler advantage.
  • Continuous Blitzscaler:
    • Leverages customer experience to drive traffic.
    • Creates a cycle of improving selections and cost structure.
  • Octopus:
    • Combines platform and brand aspects.
    • Expands across various verticals to cover a spectrum of offerings.
  • Gatekeeper:
    • Relates to tech giants controlling digital distribution pipelines.
    • Small businesses need to pass through gatekeepers to reach customers.
  • Surfer:
StrategyDescriptionWhen to UseAdvantagesDrawbacks
Blue Ocean PlayerRedefining existing market boundaries, creating uncontested markets, value innovation, lower cost, no competition.When seeking to create new markets.High potential for growth, low competition.Risky, requires significant innovation.
Blue Sea PlayerFocus on lean innovation, brand building, supply chain, digitalization & data analytics.When aiming to shape industry trends and adapt.Keeps company relevant, adaptable.May require substantial resource investment.
Constructive DisruptorWillingness to change, adapt, and create new trends and technologies.When looking to disrupt and innovate in the industry.Stays ahead in technology and trends.May face resistance to change from within.
DisruptorIntroducing products or services that displace established competitors from the bottom of the market.When targeting established competitors.Potential for market domination.Initial challenges in gaining traction.
Niche playerIdentifying a microniche and scaling it to a market, focusing on specialized offerings.When avoiding competition with large platforms.Specialized offerings, potential for growth.Limited scalability beyond the niche.
BlitzscalerPrioritizing rapid growth, market domination, and first-scaler advantage in uncertain scenarios.When seeking massive growth quickly.Competitive edge, rapid expansion.Risk of inefficiency and resource strain.
Continuous BlitzscalerLeveraging customer experience, improving selection, and reducing costs to drive growth.When aiming for continuous market domination.Sustainable growth, customer-centric approach.Requires continuous improvement and innovation.
OctopusExpanding into various related verticals to cover a broad spectrum of short-term real estate.When diversifying within a niche market.Diversification, potential for market dominance.Complexity in managing diverse verticals.
GatekeeperSmall businesses needing to pass through tech giants to reach key customers; tech giants as enablers/deterrents.When relying on tech giants for customer access.Access to key customers, reliance on gatekeepers.Vulnerability to gatekeepers’ decisions.
SurferGenerating revenue through advertising and affiliate marketing based on user search keywords.When monetizing online search and referrals.Simplicity in revenue generation.Limited revenue potential compared to giants.

Read More: Business Model, Business Strategy.

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