Business Framework Comparison
Strategic, operational, and innovation frameworks compared. Find the right framework for your challenge.
Frameworks by Category
Strategic Analysis
- Porter's Five Forces — Industry attractiveness
- Blue Ocean Strategy — Market creation
- SWOT Analysis — Quick overview
- Business Model Canvas — Model visualization
- Ansoff Matrix — Growth options
- BCG Matrix — Portfolio management
Operational Excellence
- OKRs — Goal alignment
- Balanced Scorecard — Multi-dimensional measurement
- Lean Manufacturing — Waste elimination
- Six Sigma — Quality improvement
Innovation & Discovery
- Jobs-to-be-Done — Customer insight
- Design Thinking — Human-centered design
- Lean Startup — Rapid experimentation
- First Principles — Fundamental rethinking
Decision-Making
- Eisenhower Matrix — Task prioritization
- OODA Loop — Rapid adaptation
- Second-Order Thinking — Consequence analysis
- Inversion — Failure prevention
Quick Reference
| Framework | Category | Best For | Key Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| Porter's Five Forces | Strategic | Industry analysis | How attractive is this industry? |
| Blue Ocean Strategy | Strategic | Creating new markets | How do we escape competition? |
| SWOT Analysis | Strategic | Quick strategic overview | What are our advantages and vulnerabilities? |
| OKRs | Operational | Goal alignment | What should we achieve this quarter? |
| Lean Startup | Innovation | Validating ideas | How do we learn fastest? |
| Jobs-to-be-Done | Innovation | Customer insight | What job is the customer hiring us for? |
| Design Thinking | Innovation | Human-centered design | What do users really need? |
| Business Model Canvas | Strategic | Business model visualization | How does our business create value? |
Framework Components
Porter's Five Forces
Use when: Evaluating whether to enter an industry or understanding competitive dynamics.
Blue Ocean Strategy (ERRC)
Use when: Seeking differentiation beyond incremental improvement in commoditized markets.
Lean Startup (BML)
Use when: Validating assumptions before committing significant resources.
Jobs-to-be-Done
Use when: Understanding what customers really want (not what they say they want).
OKRs
Use when: Aligning team efforts toward ambitious goals with measurable outcomes.
Design Thinking
Use when: Solving human-centered problems where user needs aren't well understood.
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Deep Dive
Comprehensive guide to strategic, operational, and innovation frameworks with implementation advice.
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