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Frameworks

The WE frameworks

A galaxy of working methods: UBF maps the business universe, and every other framework is a system inside it.

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WE plans and steers the work with a small set of frameworks that it wrote for its own use. Each one answers a single question: where a company sits, which phase it is in, what a plan has to say, how a task is reported, how a team spends its time. Together they work like a galaxy, and this page draws them that way.

At the core is UBF, the Universal Business Framework. It describes business the way astronomy describes the sky: a project is a droid, a company is a world, a group of companies is a solar system and an industry is a galaxy. The other frameworks are systems inside that map.

These are working methods. They are not industry standards, they have not been independently evaluated, and WE does not claim that using them produces any particular result. Their value is shared language: when someone says what a team is doing, everyone hears the same thing.

The vocabulary: droids and worlds

WE calls a project a droid and a company a world. A droid is launched with a single purpose. As it proves itself, it can grow into a world of its own or join one that already exists. Worlds gather into solar systems, and solar systems shape galaxies.

SuperNova, the journey

The SuperNova strategy strings eight phases together: the D.R.E.A.M. Playbook, the O.R.B.I.T.A.L. Plan, the S.T.A.R.T.U.P. Initiative, A.N.D.R.O.I.D. Ops, the L.A.U.N.C.H. Sequence, the G.R.O.W.T.H. phase, Mission Control and Event Horizon. WE’s three stages, Dream, Build and Grow, follow the same path.

S.T.A.R., for task reporting

A task is first written to be S.M.A.R.T.: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound. Then it is described through four lenses: Space, where the task sits and what it depends on; Track, where it has been and where it goes next; Assist, what is being done today to move it; and Reach, what the finished task is expected to change.

The Focus Shift

WE’s framework describes a Focus Shift as a dedicated four-hour block spent on one droid, to enhance or realign its trajectory. A plan for a shift is read against four questions: does it fit the droid’s objectives, is it clear, is it feasible in four hours, and what difference could it make.

The galaxy

Every framework is a system

Each system is drawn with one world for every letter or component it names. UBF sits at the core because it is the map the others are placed on.

  • The map of the business universe

    UBF

    The Universal Business Framework describes industries, companies and projects through their relationships, in ten components from Galaxy to Asteroid, with a five-step lifecycle for launching and scaling droids.

    1. Galaxy
    2. Black Hole
    3. Super Nova
    4. Solar System
    5. Sun
    6. Super Star
    7. Star
    8. Moon
    9. Comet
    10. Asteroid

    Explore UBF

  • The journey, phase by phase

    SuperNova

    The SuperNova Strategy strings eight phases together, from the D.R.E.A.M. Playbook to Event Horizon. WE’s Dream, Build and Grow stages follow the same path.

    1. D.R.E.A.M. Playbook
    2. O.R.B.I.T.A.L. Plan
    3. S.T.A.R.T.U.P. Initiative
    4. A.N.D.R.O.I.D. Ops
    5. L.A.U.N.C.H. Sequence
    6. G.R.O.W.T.H. phase
    7. Mission Control
    8. Event Horizon

  • How an idea is framed

    D.R.E.A.M.

    The playbook that opens the journey: Discover, Relate, Empower, Advise, Motivate.

    1. Discover
    2. Relate
    3. Empower
    4. Advise
    5. Motivate

    Explore D.R.E.A.M.

  • How the foundations are laid

    S.T.A.R.T.U.P.

    Six foundations a company is built on: Structure, Think Tank, Analysis, Relations, UX/UI, Publications.

    1. Structure
    2. Think Tank
    3. Analysis
    4. Relations
    5. UX/UI
    6. Publications

    Explore S.T.A.R.T.U.P.

  • How a product goes live

    L.A.U.N.C.H.

    The sequence that takes a droid live: Logistics, Application, Users, Navigation, Channel, Hive.

    1. Logistics
    2. Application
    3. Users
    4. Navigation
    5. Channel
    6. Hive

    Explore L.A.U.N.C.H.

  • How a company grows with care

    G.R.O.W.T.H. phase

    Six gauges for the growing years: Gauge, Research, Organize, Work, Target, Health.

    1. Gauge
    2. Research
    3. Organize
    4. Work
    5. Target
    6. Health

    Explore G.R.O.W.T.H. phase

  • How a project is planned

    O.R.B.I.T.A.L.

    Seven questions every plan answers, from Objective to Logistics. In UBF terms, it is the orbit a moon runs on.

    1. Objective
    2. Resources
    3. Budget
    4. Indicators
    5. Transport
    6. Activities
    7. Logistics

    Explore O.R.B.I.T.A.L.

  • How a task is reported

    S.T.A.R.

    A task is first written to be S.M.A.R.T.: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound. Then it is reported through Space, Track, Assist and Reach.

    1. Space
    2. Track
    3. Assist
    4. Reach

  • How a team works

    A.N.D.R.O.I.D.

    Seven focus areas a team returns to as the work demands: Advance, Network, Design, Research, Optimize, Implement, Deliver.

    1. Advance
    2. Network
    3. Design
    4. Research
    5. Optimize
    6. Implement
    7. Deliver

    Explore A.N.D.R.O.I.D.

  • How one piece of work is done

    D.R.O.I.D.

    The short loop for a single piece of work: Design, Research, Optimize, Integrate, Deliver.

    1. Design
    2. Research
    3. Optimize
    4. Integrate
    5. Deliver

  • How attention is spent

    Focus Shift

    A dedicated four-hour block spent on one droid, to enhance or realign its trajectory. A plan for a shift is read against four questions.

    1. Fit
    2. Clarity
    3. Feasibility
    4. Difference

  • The altitude of the advice

    Consulting Levels

    Five altitudes, from the whole universe of possibilities down to the classroom, so everyone knows how far out or how close in a conversation is.

    1. DreamVerse
    2. Galaxy Consulting
    3. World Consulting
    4. ANDROID Consulting
    5. Ignite Curiosity

SuperNova

The journey, phase by phase

The SuperNova strategy strings eight phases together, from framing the idea to the company finding its place in the market. WE's three stages carry the same flight: WE Dream, WE Build, WE Grow.

The pace is the company's own. Each phase takes as long as the work takes.

A small amber capsule climbs from a hexagonal launch pad labeled Dream, through a hexagonal gate labeled Build, toward a world of hexagonal tiles labeled Grow, leaving a dotted trail.
  1. Dream Survey: validate the problem
  2. Build Blueprint: ship the product
  3. Grow Territory: earn customers
  4. D.R.E.A.M. Playbook Discover and frame the opportunity.
  5. O.R.B.I.T.A.L. Plan Write the plan.
  6. S.T.A.R.T.U.P. Initiative Lay the foundations.
  7. A.N.D.R.O.I.D. Ops Run the work.
  8. L.A.U.N.C.H. Sequence Go live.
  9. G.R.O.W.T.H. phase Grow with care.
  10. Mission Control Steer, review and report.
  11. Event Horizon The company finds its place in the market.
Dream, Build and Grow as one flight, with the eight SuperNova phases along the way.

Consulting levels

Five altitudes of advice

A conversation can be about the whole universe of possibilities or about one task on the ground. The consulting levels name the altitude, so everyone knows how far out or how close in the advice is.

  1. DreamVerse

    The whole universe of possibilities.

  2. Galaxy Consulting

    An industry, seen whole.

  3. World Consulting

    One company and its plan.

  4. ANDROID Consulting

    The work on the ground.

  5. Ignite Curiosity

    Learning, where every idea starts.

What each framework answers

The WE frameworks at a glance
FrameworkIt answersIn one line
UBFThe map of the business universeThe Universal Business Framework describes industries, companies and projects through their relationships, in ten components from Galaxy to Asteroid, with a five-step lifecycle for launching and scaling droids.
SuperNovaThe journey, phase by phaseThe SuperNova Strategy strings eight phases together, from the D.R.E.A.M. Playbook to Event Horizon. WE’s Dream, Build and Grow stages follow the same path.
D.R.E.A.M.How an idea is framedThe playbook that opens the journey: Discover, Relate, Empower, Advise, Motivate.
S.T.A.R.T.U.P.How the foundations are laidSix foundations a company is built on: Structure, Think Tank, Analysis, Relations, UX/UI, Publications.
L.A.U.N.C.H.How a product goes liveThe sequence that takes a droid live: Logistics, Application, Users, Navigation, Channel, Hive.
G.R.O.W.T.H. phaseHow a company grows with careSix gauges for the growing years: Gauge, Research, Organize, Work, Target, Health.
O.R.B.I.T.A.L.How a project is plannedSeven questions every plan answers, from Objective to Logistics. In UBF terms, it is the orbit a moon runs on.
S.T.A.R.How a task is reportedA task is first written to be S.M.A.R.T.: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound. Then it is reported through Space, Track, Assist and Reach.
A.N.D.R.O.I.D.How a team worksSeven focus areas a team returns to as the work demands: Advance, Network, Design, Research, Optimize, Implement, Deliver.
D.R.O.I.D.How one piece of work is doneThe short loop for a single piece of work: Design, Research, Optimize, Integrate, Deliver.
Focus ShiftHow attention is spentA dedicated four-hour block spent on one droid, to enhance or realign its trajectory. A plan for a shift is read against four questions.
Consulting LevelsThe altitude of the adviceFive altitudes, from the whole universe of possibilities down to the classroom, so everyone knows how far out or how close in a conversation is.

See the frameworks at work

A readiness review is where the map starts: where the company sits, and what the next stage needs.

Start a readiness review See how WE works