In software development there is a concept called Pattern. This design pattern concept is frequently credited to Erich Gamma, Richard Helm, Ralph Johnson, John Vlissides known as the Gang of Four.
What is a pattern?
According to Hillside.net the goal is to "codify common programming and design practice". A pattern can be said to be a description of a general solution to a common recurring problem.
Design patterns had rapidly gained acceptance since its introduction back in the mid 1990’s. The idea of pattern is simple yet far-reaching. I was thinking that it can as well apply to areas outside of software development. For example to business and starting business, my interest beside software development.
Well, it turns out that I’m not the first to expound the idea…
Researching further, I soon discovers that this concept of pattern is not first used in software engineering. It was first applied in architecture attributed to Christopher Alexander who uses patterns for
urban planning and building architecture. According to Wikipedia article on design pattern, it is also used in education.
Business pattern though is not ascribed to anyone as far as I know. Perhaps pattern is already so common in many aspect of business that no one every think of the need to formally classify them in to patterns.
In business school, we look at cases. In a way it is a process to discover patterns.
What then should be a business pattern?
As in software, it should be a general solution to common recurring problem. I figure that it would need to be further divided into classification, such as marketing patterns, start up patterns, negotiation patterns, etc. etc.
What about Business model vs Business pattern?
A business model is more focus on the revenue generating aspect of a business. This is an important (if not the most important) aspect and deservedly received the most attention.
A business pattern on the other hand should be more general. For example, I would have patterns of starting up from scratch, and some ideas might be garnered from The Bootstrapper’s Bible.
Is pattern the same as strategy or tactic?
Patterns can be ambiguous when consider together with strategies or tactics. I would think that there are strategic patterns and tactical patterns.
Since pattern is a general solution to a common problem. So a general strategy for problem X might be solution Y.
Is there such a thing?
I’m not sure, it’s just a thought I have after encountering so much about design pattern in software. It sounds like an idea that can extend to other arena, like business, entrepreneurship.
Certainly the concept is very similar to other ideas in the field of business. What is lacking is perhaps a codification of patterns like in software design.
0 Responses to “Business Pattern”