Underrated Strategy Frameworks Every Founder Should Know
When it comes to business strategy, most founders instinctively turn to familiar tools like SWOT analysis, Porter’s Five Forces, and OKRs. These frameworks are popular for a reason—they work. But what if I told you that some of the most effective strategic tools are the ones that fly under the radar?
In my work helping businesses scale, I’ve found that the difference between companies that grow sustainably and those that struggle often comes down to how well they leverage the right strategic frameworks. If you’re looking to sharpen your decision-making and drive long-term growth, here are five underrated strategy frameworks that deserve a place in your toolkit:
1 Wardley Mapping: Seeing the Future Before It Arrives
One of the biggest challenges founders face is anticipating how their industry will evolve. Wardley Mapping is a visual framework that helps businesses understand how different components of their operations—technology, processes, customer needs—change over time. By mapping these elements, you gain insights into which areas require innovation, where competition will intensify, and where you should allocate resources.
How to Apply It: If your business is scaling, use Wardley Maps to visualize the maturity of your technology, identify upcoming disruptions, and make proactive decisions instead of reacting to market shifts.
2 Bowman’s Strategy Clock: Finding Your Competitive Edge
Most businesses think in terms of cost leadership or differentiation, but Bowman’s Strategy Clock provides a more nuanced view. This framework breaks down competitive positioning into eight different strategies, allowing you to pinpoint where your business stands in relation to competitors.
How to Apply It: If you're struggling to differentiate in a crowded market, use Bowman’s Strategy Clock to identify alternative positioning strategies, such as focusing on perceived value or hybrid approaches.
3 Hoshin Planning: Aligning Strategy with Execution
A great strategy is useless if it never makes it past the planning stage. Hoshin Planning ensures that high-level strategic goals translate into daily operations by creating clear alignment between vision, execution, and accountability.
How to Apply It: If you find that your strategic initiatives lose momentum after initial enthusiasm, implement Hoshin Planning to establish clear, measurable goals and ensure execution at every level of your organization.
4 VRIO Framework: Understanding Your Competitive Advantage
Every founder wants a competitive edge, but few systematically assess whether they truly have one. VRIO (Value, Rarity, Imitability, and Organisation) is a structured way to evaluate your business’s resources and determine if they provide a sustainable advantage.
How to Apply It: Use VRIO to audit your business’s key resources—your product, intellectual property, brand equity, or talent. Identify areas where you have a genuine edge and double down on them, while also recognizing vulnerabilities that competitors could exploit.
5 Ansoff Matrix: Choosing the Right Growth Strategy
Scaling isn’t just about growing; it’s about growing smart. The Ansoff Matrix provides a structured way to assess different growth strategies, whether through market penetration, market development, product development, or diversification.
How to Apply It: If you’re considering expanding into new markets or launching a new product line, use the Ansoff Matrix to determine the best course of action based on risk and opportunity.
The Best Strategies Drive Action
A well-crafted strategy isn’t just a document—it’s a roadmap for making better decisions. By incorporating these lesser-known but powerful frameworks into your strategic planning, you’ll position your business to scale with confidence and clarity.
Which of these frameworks have you used in your business? Let’s discuss in the comments!
