BizBigPic - Toward Enduring Success

Welcome to BizBigPic!

A way of thinking. A place. A community, built around your need to succeed in business, part of the broader quest for a successful existence, begins its journey here with the introduction of a fundamental theory of business. (BusinessWeek referred to BizBigPic as "The Wikipedia of Business Theory.")

As in a book, the theory is presented in chapters (steps). A descriptive format, rather than a prescriptive how-to format, follows the logic used to develop the theory, allowing for a deeper understanding. However, unlike the narrated chapters of a book, these chapters consist only of a principle and a chart, inviting you to flesh out your own stories.

To make the most of this experience, you may join our discussions in the comments section under each chapter, where you can ask questions, challenge ideas, bring up examples, make suggestions, etc. We will post our responses either within your entry or as a new comment in the same section. (The most recent comments will be listed in the navigation bar on the left.)

Matters of general interest regarding BizBigPic (including cheers and jeers) will be discussed under General Discussions & Updates.

Enjoy!

0. Theory Overview

Our society has been studying the field of business for over a century now. Consequently, a myriad of theories has been developed during this time. And yet, the world of business is still missing the most important component--a fundamental theory.

Traditionally, business is taught as a collection of discrete disciplines. Practitioners are left to mix and choose, as they see fit, disparate concepts in order to get an understanding of the big picture. (Some MBA programs attempt to offer a vehicle for this aggregation process through the discipline of Corporate Strategy due to its big picture setting. However, this area has its own problems, as discussed in 10. The Pyramid of Success.) Under these circumstances, what is commonly dubbed as "business fundamentals" is nothing more than a simplification of the discrete disciplines, a small collection of disparate concepts.

Fortunately, change is under way. The theory introduced here provides not only a universal framework that explains what happens in business at the fundamental level, but also a common platform for all business disciplines and concepts. It is a theory of the big picture. Its impact on the field of business can be (humbly) compared with the impact of Newton's laws of motion on mechanics.

The theory is a breakthrough development expanding upon the elements introduced in Cristian Mitreanu's 2004 white paper "Strategy, Redefined." A new concept, the ofmos, provides the critical piece that helps with this radical improvement. In addition, to increase their relevancy, several concept labels have been renamed. More recently, the theory has been detailed in Cristian's article "A Business-Relevant View of Human Nature."

1. The Hierarchical Issues Tree

Note: This essence-only approach saves you time. Yet despite appearances, the content is rich. Remember, "A picture tells a thousand words!" Therefore, we recommend careful analysis of the axiom and the chart (click to enlarge) before joining the discussion. (For your convenience, you can also download a PDF version of all chapters.)

2. The Issue-Solution's Dynamics

Note: This essence-only approach saves you time. Yet despite appearances, the content is rich. Remember, "A picture tells a thousand words!" Therefore, we recommend careful analysis of the axiom and the chart (click to enlarge) before joining the discussion. (For your convenience, you can also download a PDF version of all chapters.)

3. The Offering Map

Note: This essence-only approach saves you time. Yet despite appearances, the content is rich. Remember, "A picture tells a thousand words!" Therefore, we recommend careful analysis of the axiom and the chart (click to enlarge) before joining the discussion. (For your convenience, you can also download a PDF version of all chapters.)

4. The Ofmos

Note: This essence-only approach saves you time. Yet despite appearances, the content is rich. Remember, "A picture tells a thousand words!" Therefore, we recommend careful analysis of the axiom and the chart (click to enlarge) before joining the discussion. (For your convenience, you can also download a PDF version of all chapters.)

5. The Ofmos Portfolio

Note: This essence-only approach saves you time. Yet despite appearances, the content is rich. Remember, "A picture tells a thousand words!" Therefore, we recommend careful analysis of the axiom and the chart (click to enlarge) before joining the discussion. (For your convenience, you can also download a PDF version of all chapters.)

6. The Ofmos Portfolio Center

Note: This essence-only approach saves you time. Yet despite appearances, the content is rich. Remember, "A picture tells a thousand words!" Therefore, we recommend careful analysis of the axiom and the chart (click to enlarge) before joining the discussion. (For your convenience, you can also download a PDF version of all chapters.)

7. The Ofmos Portfolio Focus

Note: This essence-only approach saves you time. Yet despite appearances, the content is rich. Remember, "A picture tells a thousand words!" Therefore, we recommend careful analysis of the axiom and the chart (click to enlarge) before joining the discussion. (For your convenience, you can also download a PDF version of all chapters.)

8. The Ofmos Portfolio Alignment

Note: This essence-only approach saves you time. Yet despite appearances, the content is rich. Remember, "A picture tells a thousand words!" Therefore, we recommend careful analysis of the axiom and the chart (click to enlarge) before joining the discussion. (For your convenience, you can also download a PDF version of all chapters.)

9. The Big Picture

Note: This essence-only approach saves you time. Yet despite appearances, the content is rich. Remember, "A picture tells a thousand words!" Therefore, we recommend careful analysis of the axiom and the chart (click to enlarge) before joining the discussion. (For your convenience, you can also download a PDF version of all chapters.)

10. The Pyramid of Success

Note: This essence-only approach saves you time. Yet despite appearances, the content is rich. Remember, "A picture tells a thousand words!" Therefore, we recommend careful analysis of the axiom and the chart (click to enlarge) before joining the discussion. (For your convenience, you can also download a PDF version of all chapters.)

Let's Name the Theory!

Please let us know what would be your name of choice for the fundamental theory of business* introduced here. We will be accepting suggestions until TBD. After that, a poll of all suggestions will be included in this post, allowing you to vote for your favorite choice.

We already have a few suggestions listed alphabetically below, but please join us and add your choice of a relevant name in the comments section:

> The BizBigPic Theory
> The Fundamental Theory of Business
> (The) Ofmos Theory
> (The) Theory of Business Solutions**
> (The) Theory of Issues and Solutions

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* The generic name "fundamental theory of business" was chosen in order to clearly distinguish this theory from the existent body of management theories and concepts commonly referred to as "business fundamentals." At the same time, the choice of words "theory of the business" was avoided because it could be interpreted as "theory of the firm," a category of socio-economic theories. Additionally, Peter F. Drucker uses the term "theory of the business" in one of his articles to refer to the assumptions on which a particular company is built. In the BizBigPic case, "business" refers to commercial dealings, or commerce, in general.

** Since the publication of "Strategy, Redefined." in 2004, the name "Theory of Business Solutions" has been used to refer to the flawed (now we know!) first version of the theory. Unfortunately, although relevant to the theory, the term "business solutions" has been heavily associated with the process of bundling products and services. So, in spite of the fact that this might have been a poor name choice, we will leave it in the list of suggestions for you to decide its fate.

In the News

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New Book, "Spointra and the Secret of Business Success," Proves That Fun and Business Theory Can Coexist Harmoniously
Press Release (March 29, 2007)

Cristian Mitreanu's book "Spointra and the Secret of Business Success," which will be released on April 3rd at www.spointra.com, brings the graphic novel format into the business book realm. Embedding a simplified version of his fundamental theory of business into a fictional story, Mitreanu aims to create a unique and entertaining learning experience. Artwork and text is equally employed in order to communicate the concepts quickly and concisely.

See http://www.spointra.com or http://www.redefiningstrategy.com/news7.htm

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The Wikipedia of Business Theory
BusinessWeek (September 5, 2006)

There's a new site, www.bizbigpic.com, that hopes to be the Wikipedia of business theory. The site, founded by Cristian Mitreanu, introduces its theory in 10 chapters, which are open to comment.

It already has its own lingo, as in "Ofmos Portfolio Alignment," and to a reader who complains that it doesn't seem applicable to startup businesses, Mitreanu insists that it "encompasses a wide range of entrepreneurial initiatives," such as adding new products and entering new markets. You be the judge.

See http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/content/sep2006/sb20060901_520086.htm?campaign_id=rss_smlbz

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A Fundamental Theory of Business Has Been Developed at Last
Press Release (August 31, 2006)

For the first time in business history, a fundamental theory of business has been developed. Introduced under the initiative BizBigPic, the theory provides a comprehensive and dynamic picture of what happens in business at the fundamental level.

See ABOUT or http://www.redefiningstrategy.com/news5.htm

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BizBigPic Set to Empower Individuals in Their Quest for Success in Business
Press Release (August 19, 2006)

BizBigPic, an innovative web-based initiative set to help individuals achieve enduring success in business, is being launched today. This initial stage of development is driven by the introduction of a fundamental theory of business, which provides individuals with a comprehensive and dynamic big picture of the business environment.

See ABOUT or http://www.redefiningstrategy.com/news4.htm

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General Discussions & Updates

Here we address all matters related to BizBigPic, except those related solely to the theory. As with the other posts, discussions will take place in the comments section. However, matters of higher relevance for the community will also be mentioned within the post's body, which will be updated as a result. Therefore, please make sure to check back regularly.

To All Participants

We would like to thank all of you who participate in our discussions (even the silent ones who only read the comments). We hope that you find the BizBigPic experience useful and entertaining, and that you'll stick around for our future exciting developments. Thank you!

To All of You That Spread the Word

We would like to thank all of you that help us spread the word about BizBigPic. Thank you! Any mention or link to us is highly appreciated.

Comments Moderation

We reserve the right to remove inappropriate or purely promotional entries.

Technological Platform

Why a blog? We looked into other technological platforms, such as forums and wikis, and decided that a blog platform would best serve this community in its incipient stages. However, we are open to suggestions and we appreciate any comments that you might have. Thanks.

Legal

Copyright: 2006-2009 BizBigPic & Cristian Mitreanu. All rights reserved.

Trademarks: Name and logo "BizBigPic," Slogan "Toward Enduring Success," Name and logo "RedefiningStrategy.com"

Patents: We are in the process of patenting a method and a system based on the theory introduced here.

(In other words, as with any book, you can ONLY use this theory to improve your own personal decision-making process. However, there are a couple of advantages. First, you don't have to buy a book. Second, but more important, you can interact with the author and the community of readers. It's like being in a 24/7 seminar!)