Unicanvas: Exploring a tool for strategic management

Abstract

Purpose This research proposes an adapted version of Business Model Canvas (BMC) as a potential strategic tool for the design of the business model of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). In the context of fifth-generation universities, the University-Model Canvas (Unicanvas) offers a solution to some limitations of traditional strategic tools. Unicanvas aims to be a critical visual and dynamic tool to address the new challenges faced by universities such as internationalization, digitalization, sustainability, and corporate social responsibility. Research methods/Approach We adapt the strategic building blocks, in which some of the BMC blocks have been renamed and an achievement block has been added. We reflect theoretically on the peculiarities of each block in the context of universities to explain the versatility of the tool for designing university business models tailored to different value propositions and for various beneficiaries. Findings and implications Unicanvas offers universities the flexibility and dynamism to adapt their different business models to various forms of value creation that arise from their growing number of beneficiaries, missions, and the new trends and challenges they face.. We conclude that using this participatory,, dynamic, intuitive, and flexible strategic tool will facilitate the holistic design of the business model of these institutions.