The Standard Model for Business is a framework for understanding how organisations are built, scaled, governed and assured.
It organises the business into five stages, twenty functions and eighty underlying units, giving leaders a clear view of how the different parts of an organisation fit together.
2. Who is The Standard Model for Business for?
The Standard Model can be used by:
Professionals who want to understand business beyond their own function
Founders and entrepreneurs building or scaling organisations
Executives and leadership teams
Boards and investors
Organisations that want to improve how their business works
Different products are designed for different levels of experience and organisational need.
3. Is The Standard Model industry-specific?
No.
The Standard Model is designed to work across industries, sectors and geographies. The details of each organisation will be different, but the core functions required to build, operate, govern and assure a business are broadly consistent.
4. How is this different from traditional consulting?
Traditional consulting often starts with a particular problem or function.
The Standard Model starts with the whole organisation.
This allows us to look at how different functions, teams, systems and responsibilities work together before deciding what needs to improve.
The aim is simple: improve the organisation as a whole, rather than fix one area while creating problems somewhere else.
5. What is the Standard Model Enterprise Review?
The Standard Model Enterprise Review is a detailed review of how your organisation works across The Standard Model for Business.
We look across the relevant functions of the organisation, identify strengths and areas that need improvement, and provide clear priorities for what should happen next.
The Enterprise Review costs $50,000.
6. What do we receive from an Enterprise Review?
The exact output depends on the organisation, but the Review is designed to give leadership a clear view of:
Where the organisation is strong
Where important gaps exist
Which areas need the most attention
How different issues are connected
What should be improved first
The Review provides clear recommendations and priorities for leadership to act on.
7. What is Standard Model Enterprise Transformation?
Enterprise Transformation is a hands-on programme that helps organisations make significant changes across the business.
Using The Standard Model for Business, we work alongside your leadership team to improve the areas that matter most and help put those changes into practice.
This may include changes to functions, structures, responsibilities, processes, systems and governance.
Enterprise Transformation engagements start from $250,000.
8. What is the difference between Enterprise Review and Enterprise Transformation?
The Enterprise Review helps you understand what needs to improve.
Enterprise Transformation helps you make those improvements.
For many organisations, the Enterprise Review is the natural first step before beginning a larger transformation programme.
If you complete a $50,000 Enterprise Review and then move into Enterprise Transformation, the Review fee is credited in full against the Transformation engagement.
9. Why does Enterprise Transformation start from $250,000?
Enterprise Transformation involves working directly with your leadership team and employees to make significant changes across the organisation.
The work may cover several functions and can include changes to structures, processes, systems, governance and responsibilities.
Every engagement is different. The final fee depends on the size of the organisation, the areas included and the amount of work required.
The scope and fee are agreed before the engagement begins.
10. What outcomes should we expect from Enterprise Transformation?
The exact outcomes depend on the work agreed, but they may include:
Clearer roles and responsibilities
Better processes and ways of working
Stronger business functions
Better information and decision-making
Improved governance and control
Less duplication between teams
Fewer gaps between functions
Clear ownership of improvements within the organisation
The aim is to leave the organisation stronger and better able to sustain the changes after the engagement ends.
11. What is SMX?
SMX — The Standard Model eXperience — is a four-day executive business simulation.
Participants take responsibility for running a company and make decisions across the business using The Standard Model for Business.
The programme includes one day of preparation followed by three days of simulation.
Participants experience how decisions in one part of a company affect the rest of the organisation and develop their ability to think across the whole business.
12. Who is SMX for?
SMX is designed for people who already have meaningful business experience and want to develop broader executive judgement.
This may include:
Senior executives
Emerging executives
High-potential leaders
Investors
Entrepreneurs and business owners
Places are limited and participants apply to attend.
13. Why does SMX cost $15,000 per participant?
SMX is an intensive executive experience rather than a classroom training course.
Participants spend four days making business decisions, responding to changing conditions and seeing the consequences of those decisions across the organisation.
The programme is designed to develop judgement through practice rather than theory alone.
The fee is $15,000 per participant.
14. Do I need to read the book before using any of the products?
No.
The book explains the thinking behind The Standard Model for Business and provides a useful foundation, but each product is designed to stand on its own.
You do not need to read the book before completing an assessment, undertaking a Review, joining SMX or beginning an Enterprise Transformation.
15. Can we use The Standard Model inside our own organisation?
Yes.
Leadership teams can use the framework to understand their organisation, discuss priorities and identify areas that need improvement.
For organisations that want more structured support, the Enterprise Review and Enterprise Transformation provide deeper assessment and practical help.
16. Do you provide ongoing support?
Yes.
The level of ongoing support depends on the product and the organisation's needs.
Enterprise Transformation is specifically designed to work alongside your teams over time, helping put changes into practice and transfer ownership to the organisation.
17. Is The Standard Model a certification or compliance standard?
No.
The Standard Model for Business is a business framework.
It does not certify that an organisation meets a particular standard and it is not a replacement for regulatory, professional or industry-specific requirements.
It provides a structured way to understand the organisation and identify where it can improve.
18. Is The Standard Model right for every organisation?
The framework can be applied to organisations of many sizes, but not every product will be appropriate for every business.
Enterprise Review and Enterprise Transformation are most useful for organisations with enough scale or complexity to benefit from a structured, whole-business approach.
Smaller organisations may be better suited to the Maturity Assessment, Business Review or other Standard Model resources.
19. How do we get started?
The right starting point depends on what you need.
You can:
Explore The Standard Model through the book and free Executive Summary
Complete a Standard Model assessment
Undertake an Enterprise Review
Apply for SMX
Discuss an Enterprise Transformation
If you are unsure which option is right for your organisation, contact us and we can help you choose the most appropriate starting point.
