Business Models for Dummies

The book has very useful content for a novice. But most entrepreneurs are a bit savvy, and the author has fallen for the trap of writing everything he knows about the subject. There are too many examples and too many tips and strategies that the really important information is buried in minutiae. Unless one is highly motivated, the book is very taxing to read, it could be cut in half in my opinion. I think some of the concepts are over rated, for example the need for a niche market, USP & superior margins. Even in the most successful businesses margins & market share ebb & flow. And there is an awful lot of successful businesses without a niche or superior USP. Walmart is cited a lot but despite it's superior model, it is hardly the most successful supermarket here in the UK; Tesco is. Apple has a very high margin per product compared to Samsung, but Samsung still makes an awful lot of money. A margin that maximises profits is arguably more preferable to the so termed superior margin. In summary, I think the author could cut the fluff out; most business people aren't dummies per se. In the meantime, I'd recommend Business Model Generation instead

Superb

This is a "Must Have" for any business owner or executive and a game changer in the way we develop and use business models. Jim does a phenomenal job of taking a nebulous concept and breaking it down into very accessible elements that are applicable to any business. In addition, the book gives an abundance of extremely useful tips, tools and tutorials on how to use the concepts outlined in the book. There is no shortage of business books and theories on business, strategy and "How To's". One of the problems that I have repeatedly faced in business and particularly small business is bridging the gap between theory and practice, especially in the field of strategy, and most especially in the context of driving business development. Much has been written about business models, yet until now, the concept has been poorly defined and relatively inaccessible to most. Other frameworks outline the elements of a model, but most if not all, are devoid of any consistent means to define, evaluate and balance the elements. What makes this book different is that it not only breaks the model down into basic and very accessible concepts. It also gives a means to drill down into each element and to evaluate the relative importance of each of these to the sustained profitability of the business. Whether you are a novice or an experienced business professional, you can view your model at either broad brushed or granular level, and then you are able to score, benchmark and analyze the elements and factors that affect your model. It allows you to identify the strengths and weaknesses of your business in an objective way by providing both the top-down and the bottom-up view, which is rare in any business book or tool. Jim eloquently makes the point that Business Models erode and if you are not working to move forward, you are in fact going backwards. There is a tremendous amount of background information including the explanation of different types of business models. This is a phenomenal book and now a permanent fixture in my business tool kit. If you have ANY interest in running a business, I suggest you get a copy and use it often. Truth be told, you will probably never write another business plan again!

Little complex but good

I concur with the other 4 and 5 star ratings of this book. It is a very good read. While the author tries hard to classify the subject matter as business models, it more about business strategy and executing that strategy. I am just not buying the model perspective from him. Yes, in some way it can be very simplistic (or obvious is a better term) as other reviewers have written. But you can say that about most of the Dummies books. It is like a mini MBA level review without the math. The author provides some great insights and real world examples to support his arguments. All in all, if you are looking for a comprehensive book on how to run a successful business, then read this book.

It is helpful for novice like me.

While this For Dummies Guide is essentially over-simplified, repetitive and non-essential for a business school graduate, it is presented in a very easy to read format complete with graphs and charts to help illustrate a concept. It helps employees learn more about their company and its business without being confused by business school jargon. The subject matter is dry, but the author tries to present core concepts in an easy to understand way. Overall recommended for those new to business models and business school jargon. Not recommended for those who are already understand business modelling, concepts and theories, even if they just need a refresher.