The Business Models Handbook

This book does exactly what it says on the tin. It is a reference guide for business frameworks which should appeal to anyone in business who is looking for structure when taking on new challenges. The layout to the book is both simple, but effective and can be read as a go to guide when tackling that next business problem or as a leisurely read to improve overall knowledge. Every chapter is focused on a specific framework and provides sufficent information to let the reader decide whether it is appropriate to their needs. There may be occasions where further supplementary guidance is required, but at that point this reference book has done its job.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a must-have reference for all business executives and managers. Get a copy, familiarise yourself with the various models, use it as a common language and keep it close.

The overall Business Model for a company is unique and there are NO prescriptive definitions for how each company should operate. That’s not THE business model Paul Hague refers to in this book. We do, however, need specific models to help with business strategy and planning activities. This book provides a comprehensive resource of 50 of the most common and successful models available, including those from Porter, Boston CG, de Bono, Kotler, Maslow, Mintzberg and McKinsey.

The structure is excellent and presented in an easy to follow and understandable format. It follows the outline:
What the Model Looks Like
How it Works – Overview and Detail
The Origins of the Model
Developments of the Model
The Model in Action
Some Things to Think About
Notes and References

This consistent chapter scheme enables us to effectively receive and absorb the various elements of information associated with that model. The origins and developments of the model, make really interesting reading and are an excellent touch.

The importance of working with business models is that it provides a method and process to focus our collective thinking around a specific business problem, and keeps everyone talking an agreed language. It is also a mechanism to share strategies with investors, partners, suppliers and customers.

The best Business Models book I’ve come across.

Many thanks to Kogan Page Ltd Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC version of the book in return for an honest review.

Far too many people confuse business models with business plans and assume that they are something just for starting new businesses and the like. Oh, what a waste! A book like this is perfect for bringing the concept and versatility of business models to the fore, written in a clear language that makes it ripe for consideration and implementation.

It is a simple concept, take a large number of business frameworks, templates and models, present them individually and describe what they do, how they can help individual challenges and show with a real-world case study their practical utility and usage. It can be a question of finding the tool you feel most comfortable using to achieve a specific goal. In many cases there can be several choices on offer - and just like anything where there is a choice there can be subtle differences that attract, or detract, in the specific eye of the beholder.

There is no shortage of material to consider, even though each business model is presented directly without padding or masses of in-depth academic discussion. A book for doing and encouraging the do-ers. Some of the business models will be familiar to anybody who has undertaken even an undergraduate business studies course, others may be less familiar, but this book will change that, and a sequential read-through is strongly recommended to become familiar with the range of business models on offer, their particular intentions, strengths and weaknesses. Of course, it is also designed as a grab-and-refresh reference book - it meets both requirements with aplomb, and you will surely find a useful business model within the 50 on offer! It may encourage you to dig deeper and, naturally, there is no shortage of uber-professional and academic reference works on the subject. There is a perceived bias towards the strategic analysis-side of things, but this need not be a problem as everything boils down to, or references strategy, no matter how you slice and dice it.

It is appreciated that the author has not sought to try and steer the reader explicitly to a particular business model since each business will have different needs and implementation requirements that can be unique. It is true, of course, that specific business models can be universally helpful in some circumstances, but just because you may use a flat-bladed screwdriver for many repair jobs, it doesn't mean that at times you'd be better using a Torx screwdriver or even a chisel. Having a toolbox stocked with tools that you know how to wield, and when, is very valuable indeed!

Nothing else needs to be said. Buy the book! Read it, consume it and prepare to learn (or be refreshed) about more than business models!

The Business Models Handbook, written by Paul Hague and published by Kogan Page. ISBN 9780749481872. YYYYY

I love this guide! And I love the concept of having lots of mini chunks of information all in one book. As a growing business entrepreneur myself it was interesting to see the processes from different systems, without having to read a full book on each. I took lots of ideas from this book and will continue to go back and fourth to the book for insight, when ever needed.

Good with, lots of different and helpful models that can be used in many business scenarios.
It certainly provided clear and valuable insights into the uses of different models and helped make them accessible to people who don’t use them on a regular basis. There were several models that I hadn’t come across before (real-life job in strategic planning) and several that were explained in a far better way than many previous reference books.

As this was a pre-release version, you couldn’t see the pictorial information that will be provided but there was sufficient content to help you understand the models.

A must have book for any business student or people interested in strategy.

4* It would have been 5* if the diagrams had been visible on the kindle!!

I thought this was a very useful book about various businesses models. This should be essential for any business student or businessperson to have on their shelf, so you can quickly reference different models. There is very good insight into how the model has changed over the years along with the benefits and cons of each. I wish my copy had the figures because I think it would have been very useful to visualize as I read it. I highly recommend this book as a reference to various business models.

An excellent companion (with complementary information) of other classics on the topic, like those produced by the St-Gallen University experts. Definitely a must-read for those interested in business models and business model innovation.

I liked this book, and if you are a manager/director, you really want to get a copy to keep it as a reference. There are so many different business models introduced in the book.