StratBear Strategy Guide

For Strategy Only Tier - Business Profile + Strategy Foundation

🚀 Quick Start 🎓 User Guide ⚙️ Enterprise Admin Guide

STRATEGY GUIDE

StratBear Strategy Only Tier

Your Complete Guide to Building Strategic Foundation

For: Strategy Only tier

Version: 2.0 (30-Day Program + Free Tools)

Last Updated: December 2025

WELCOME TO STRATEGY ONLY

You've chosen Strategy Only - StratBear's foundational tier designed for businesses seeking strategic clarity and framework-driven planning.

What You Get:

✅ Comprehensive Business Profile
✅ Strategy Foundation tools (Oxford Method frameworks)
✅ Strategic Foundation Report (comprehensive strategic analysis)
✅ Purpose Statement (Ikigai framework)
✅ PESTEL Analysis (macro environment assessment)
✅ Porter's 5 Forces (competitive analysis)
✅ TUNA Analysis (volatility assessment)
✅ Blue Ocean Strategy (differentiation framework)
✅ NEW: 30-Day Strategic Behavior Program (4-week email sequence with personalized actions)
✅ Fusion Intelligence ChatBot (during setup phase)

What's NOT Included:

❌ Fusion Intelligence (24/7 AI strategic consultant - requires Pro User tier)
❌ Scenario Planning (financial modeling - requires Pro User tier)
❌ Financial Story Mode (accounting integration - requires Pro User tier)
❌ Location/Competitor Analysis (real-time market intelligence - requires Pro User tier)
❌ Automated Reports (bi-weekly/monthly/quarterly - requires Pro User tier)
❌ Elite Scheduler (one-on-one consultations - requires Elite User tier)

This Guide Covers:

Getting Started

Business Profile Setup

Strategy Foundation Tools

30-Day Strategic Behavior Program

Strategic Foundation Report

Strategic Frameworks Explained

Upgrading to Pro User

Support & Resources

1. GETTING STARTED

Your First Steps (30-40 minutes)

Step 1: Complete Business Profile

Navigate to: Dashboard → Strategic Command Center → "Complete Business Profile"
Complete all 6 sections for best results

Step 2: Complete Strategy Foundation Tools

Purpose Statement (Ikigai)
PESTEL Analysis
Porter's 5 Forces
TUNA Analysis
Blue Ocean Strategy

Step 3: Begin 30-Day Strategic Behavior Program

Automatic enrollment upon completing Strategic Foundation
Receive weekly emails with personalized actions
4 weeks: Actions → Purpose → Financial → Recap

Step 4: Generate Strategic Foundation Report

After completing frameworks, generate your comprehensive report
Download PDF for offline reference

2. BUSINESS PROFILE SETUP

Why Business Profile Matters

Section 1: Business Fundamentals

Business Name

How it's used: Referenced throughout your Strategic Foundation Report
Example: "Joe's Pizza" vs. generic "your business"

Industry

How it's used: Informs which strategic frameworks matter most
Example: Restaurant industry → focus on Porter's threat of substitutes (delivery apps)

Business Model (B2B/B2C/Both)

How it's used: Shapes framework questions
Example: B2B → client concentration analysis, B2C → consumer trends

Revenue Stream

How it's used: Identifies concentration risk
Example: "Dine-in only" → vulnerable to consumer spending declines

Business Stage

How it's used: Calibrates framework depth
Example: Startup → shorter planning horizons, Established → deeper competitive analysis

Section 2: Competitive Landscape

Named Competitors

Why it matters: Specific competitors make Porter's 5 Forces more actionable
What to enter: Actual company names (e.g., "Domino's Pizza, Pizza Hut")
Note: Real-time competitor monitoring requires Pro User tier

Target Customer

Why it matters: Shapes purpose alignment and market positioning
Be specific: Demographics, psychographics, pain points

Competitive Advantages

Why it matters: Foundation for Blue Ocean Strategy differentiation
Examples: Unique process, proprietary technology, brand loyalty

Section 3: Strategic Goals

Primary Strategic Objectives

Why it matters: Aligns all framework analysis
Be specific: "Expand to 2nd location within 18 months" not "grow the business"

Biggest Challenges

Why it matters: Identifies PESTEL and Porter's focus areas
Examples: Rising costs, competitive pressure, talent retention

Strategic Timeline

Why it matters: Determines planning horizon
Example: Exit in 24 months → focus on valuation drivers

Section 4: Operational Foundation

Team Structure

Why it matters: Implementation feasibility in Strategic Foundation Report
Example: Solo founder → different strategic options than 50-person team

Technology Stack

Why it matters: Digital transformation opportunities in PESTEL
Example: Manual processes → technology as competitive advantage

Seasonal Patterns

Why it matters: PESTEL economic analysis timing
Example: Tax prep seasonal business → Q1 revenue concentration risk

3. STRATEGY FOUNDATION TOOLS

Purpose Statement (Ikigai Framework)

What:

Four Questions:

What you LOVE

What you're GOOD AT

What the WORLD NEEDS

What you can be PAID FOR

Output:

Example:

How to Use:

Foundation for all strategic decisions
Filter for opportunities: Does it align with your purpose?
Positioning statement for marketing

PESTEL Analysis (Macro Environment)

What:

Six Dimensions:

P - Political

Regulatory changes
Government stability
Tax policy
Trade regulations

E - Economic

Economic growth/recession
Interest rates
Inflation
Unemployment

S - Social

Demographics
Cultural trends
Consumer behavior
Lifestyle changes

T - Technological

Automation
Digital transformation
Industry disruption
Technology adoption

E - Environmental

Sustainability pressures
Climate impact
Resource scarcity
Green regulations

L - Legal

Compliance requirements
Industry regulations
Employment law
Data privacy

How to Use:

Identify threats (what could hurt you?)
Spot opportunities (what trends favor you?)
Plan strategic responses

Porter's 5 Forces (Competitive Analysis)

What:

Five Forces:

1. Competitive Rivalry

How many competitors?
Market growth rate?
Differentiation level?
Exit barriers?

2. Threat of New Entrants

Capital requirements?
Economies of scale?
Brand loyalty?
Regulatory barriers?

3. Bargaining Power of Suppliers

Supplier concentration?
Switching costs?
Substitute inputs available?

4. Bargaining Power of Buyers

Customer concentration?
Price sensitivity?
Switching costs?
Backward integration threat?

5. Threat of Substitutes

Alternative solutions?
Price-performance trade-off?
Switching costs?
Emerging technologies?

How to Use:

Identify your weakest force (greatest threat)
Determine strategic response
Assess market attractiveness

TUNA Analysis (Volatility Assessment)

What:

Four Dimensions:

T - Turbulent

Rate of change: How fast is your industry evolving?
Example: Tech = High turbulence, Accounting = Low turbulence

U - Uncertain

Predictability: Can you forecast market conditions?
Example: Pandemic = High uncertainty, Stable economy = Low uncertainty

N - Novel

New situations: Facing unprecedented challenges?
Example: AI disruption = High novelty, Traditional retail = Low novelty

A - Ambiguous

Cause-effect clarity: Clear what actions lead to what results?
Example: Startup = High ambiguity, Established = Low ambiguity

Scoring:

Each dimension: Low (1) / Medium (2) / High (3)
Total score: 4-12
High TUNA (9-12) → Conservative approach, shorter planning horizons
Low TUNA (4-6) → Bold approach possible, longer planning horizons

How to Use:

Calibrate risk tolerance
Determine planning horizon (high TUNA = shorter)
Guide strategy formulation (high TUNA = more scenario planning)

Blue Ocean Strategy (Differentiation Framework)

What:

Four Actions Framework:

ELIMINATE

What factors the industry takes for granted should be eliminated?
Example: Traditional accounting firms require in-person meetings → Eliminate that requirement

REDUCE

What factors should be reduced well below industry standard?
Example: Reduce pricing by 30% vs. traditional CFO services

RAISE

What factors should be raised well above industry standard?
Example: Raise accessibility (24/7 platform vs. email-only)

CREATE

What factors should be created that the industry has never offered?
Example: Create predictive cash flow forecasting (vs. backward-looking reports)

Output:

How to Use:

Identify commoditized factors to eliminate/reduce (cost savings)
Identify underserved needs to raise/create (value creation)
Avoid competing on same factors as everyone else

4. 30-DAY STRATEGIC BEHAVIOR PROGRAM

What It Is

4-week behavioral change email program

The Problem:

The Solution:

Program Structure

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Behavioral Science Foundation

1. Implementation Intentions

Specific "IF-THEN" plans are 3x more likely to be completed
Week 1 includes: "IF it's Monday morning, THEN I will [specific action from your PESTEL]"

2. Public Commitment Effect

Sharing goals with others increases follow-through by 37%
Week 2 challenges you to share your Ikigai purpose with 3 people

3. Progress Principle

Small wins create momentum
Week 3 focuses on knowing your numbers - awareness creates action

4. Fresh Start Effect

New beginnings naturally motivate action
We leverage the "just completed my strategy" momentum

Visual Elements

Week 1: IF/THEN Implementation Intentions flowchart
Week 2: Ikigai Venn Diagram (4 overlapping circles: Love, Good At, World Needs, Paid For)
Week 3: Cash Flow Triangle (Suppliers, Customers, Runway)
Week 4: Journey Progress Bar (all 4 milestones complete)

How It Works

Automatic Enrollment:

Weekly Emails:

Personalized Content:

Engagement:

Completion:

Week 4: Special Offer for Strategy Only Users

What Makes This Different from Generic Email Sequences

5. STRATEGIC FOUNDATION REPORT

What You Get

Strategic Foundation Report

Report Includes:

Executive Summary

Purpose & Positioning

External Environment Analysis

Competitive Landscape

Market Volatility Assessment

Blue Ocean Opportunities

Strategic Priorities

How to Generate Report

Step 1:

Purpose Statement (Ikigai)
PESTEL Analysis
Porter's 5 Forces
TUNA Analysis
Blue Ocean Strategy

Step 2:

Step 3:

Step 4:

Note:

How to Use the Report

Month 1-3: Foundation

Share with leadership team
Align on strategic priorities
Use as decision filter ("Does this align with our Blue Ocean strategy?")

Month 3-6: Implementation

Execute top 3 strategic priorities
Track progress
Adjust based on results

Month 6-12: Refresh

Update frameworks if major changes occur
Regenerate report
Reassess strategic position

Annual Review:

Complete all frameworks from scratch
Generate fresh report
Identify strategic drift

6. STRATEGIC FRAMEWORKS EXPLAINED

Why These Frameworks?

Oxford Method Foundation:

Framework Relationships:


Ikigai (Purpose)
    ↓
PESTEL (External Macro)
    ↓
Porter's 5 Forces (Competitive)
    ↓
TUNA (Volatility)
    ↓
Blue Ocean (Differentiation)

When to Use Each Framework

Ikigai - Always Start Here

Use: Annual strategic planning
Output: Purpose statement (filter for all decisions)

PESTEL - Macro Changes

Use: Quarterly review, major industry shifts
Output: Opportunities/threats from external environment

Porter's 5 Forces - Competitive Analysis

Use: New market entry, competitive response planning
Output: Competitive intensity assessment, strategic positioning

TUNA - Risk Calibration

Use: High-uncertainty situations, volatile markets
Output: Risk-adjusted planning horizons

Blue Ocean - Differentiation

Use: Commoditization pressure, need for innovation
Output: Value innovation strategies, uncontested market space

Framework Thinking Process

Step 1: Purpose (Ikigai)

Step 2: External Context (PESTEL)

Step 3: Competitive Reality (Porter's)

Step 4: Risk Calibration (TUNA)

Step 5: Differentiation (Blue Ocean)

7. UPGRADING TO PRO USER

What You're Missing (Strategy Only Limitations)

1. Fusion Intelligence

What it is: 24/7 AI strategic consultant with YOUR business context
What you miss: Real-time strategic counsel for time-sensitive decisions
Example: "Should I expand to 2nd location?" → Fusion Intelligence analyzes market opportunity, financial capacity, competitive density, economic conditions

2. Scenario Planning

What it is: Financial modeling for "what-if" decisions
What you miss: Best/expected/worst case scenarios with break-even analysis
Example: "What if I hire 2 sales reps?" → 3 scenarios with ROI timelines

3. Financial Story Mode

What it is: Accounting data + strategic context = narrative intelligence
What you miss: "Your margin drop threatens your exit strategy" vs. "Gross profit: $142,583"
Requires: Plaid/QuickBooks/Xero integration

4. Real-Time Market Intelligence

What it is: FRED economic data + Google Places competitor tracking
What you miss: "Restaurant sector inflation 12%" vs. generic advice
What you miss: "Competitor ABC opened 2nd location, traffic +23%"

5. Automated Reports

Bi-weekly: Financial Health Reports (60-90 day cash flow forecasting)
Monthly: Executive Summaries (performance vs. goals)
Quarterly: Resiliency Scores (5-dimension strategic assessment)

6. Elite Scheduler

What it is: One-on-one strategic consultations with dedicated consultant
Tier required: Elite User
Includes: 2hr/month consulting + quarterly reviews + priority support

When to Upgrade

Upgrade to Pro User When:

✅ Need real-time strategic counsel (Fusion Intelligence)
✅ Making major decisions requiring financial modeling
✅ Want automated reports (bi-weekly/monthly/quarterly)
✅ Need competitive intelligence on named competitors
✅ Connected accounting system (Plaid/QuickBooks/Xero)

Upgrade to Elite User When:

✅ Need everything in Pro User
✅ Want 1-on-1 strategic consultations (2 hours/month)
✅ Prefer human advisor for complex decisions
✅ Value quarterly strategic reviews
✅ Need priority support

Stay on Strategy Only When:

✅ Budget-conscious (annual commitment option available)
✅ Need strategic framework clarity (not ongoing analysis)
✅ Prefer annual strategic planning (not continuous intelligence)
✅ DIY approach (use Strategic Foundation Report as guide)

How to Upgrade

From Dashboard:

Questions?

Email: hello@r2.social
In-app: Help button

8. SUPPORT & RESOURCES

Getting Help

In-Platform Help:

Dashboard: Help button (context-sensitive guidance)
Strategic Foundation: Tooltips on each framework question

Documentation:

This Guide: Strategy Only tier reference
Quick Start: QUICK_START.md - Overview for all tiers
Pro User Guide: USER_GUIDE.md - Full platform documentation (if you upgrade)

Professional Services:

White-glove onboarding available (Elite Stand-Alone or Elite User tiers)
Email: hello@r2.social

Common Questions

Q: How long does setup take?

Q: Can I update my Business Profile later?

Q: How often should I regenerate the Strategic Foundation Report?

Q: Can I retake framework assessments?

Q: What if I want automated reports?

Q: Is my data secure?

Q: Can I downgrade from Pro User to Strategy Only?

Q: Do I get updates to frameworks?

Q: What is the 30-Day Strategic Behavior Program?

Q: Can I opt out of the 30-Day Program emails?

Q: Can I try StratBear free tools before subscribing?

QUICK REFERENCE

Your Strategy Only Access:

✅ Business Profile
✅ Purpose Statement (Ikigai)
✅ PESTEL Analysis
✅ Porter's 5 Forces
✅ TUNA Analysis
✅ Blue Ocean Strategy
✅ Strategic Foundation Report (PDF)
✅ 30-Day Strategic Behavior Program (4-week email sequence)
✅ Fusion Intelligence ChatBot (during setup phase)

NOT Included (Pro User Required):

❌ Fusion Intelligence (24/7 access)
❌ Scenario Planning
❌ Financial Story Mode
❌ Location/Competitor Analysis
❌ Automated Reports

NOT Included (Elite User Required):

❌ Elite Scheduler (1-on-1 consultations)

Setup Checklist:

[ ] Complete Business Profile (6 sections)
[ ] Complete Purpose Statement (Ikigai)
[ ] Complete PESTEL Analysis
[ ] Complete Porter's 5 Forces
[ ] Complete TUNA Analysis
[ ] Complete Blue Ocean Strategy
[ ] Generate Strategic Foundation Report
[ ] Download PDF for reference
[ ] Complete 30-Day Strategic Behavior Program
[ ] Schedule annual refresh

30-Day Program Schedule:

Week 1: Critical First Actions (from your frameworks)
Week 2: Purpose & Ikigai (share with 3 people)
Week 3: Financial Focus (know your numbers)
Week 4: Recap & Momentum (next steps)

Annual Strategic Cycle:

Month 1-3: Foundation (share report, align team, complete 30-Day Program)
Month 3-6: Implementation (execute top 3 priorities)
Month 6-12: Refresh (update if major changes)
Month 12: Annual review (regenerate from scratch)

Free Tools (Try Before You Buy):

Competitor Snapshot: stratbear.com/free-trial/competitor-snapshot
Business Health Score: stratbear.com/free-trial/health-score

Document Version: 2.0 (30-Day Program + Free Tools)

Last Updated: December 2025

For Pro User Documentation: See USER_GUIDE.md

For Enterprise Admins: See ENTERPRISE_ADMIN_GUIDE.md

Quick Reference: See QUICK_START.md

StratBear Strategy Guide

STRATEGY GUIDE

StratBear Strategy Only Tier

WELCOME TO STRATEGY ONLY

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. GETTING STARTED

Your First Steps (30-40 minutes)

2. BUSINESS PROFILE SETUP

Why Business Profile Matters

Section 1: Business Fundamentals

Section 2: Competitive Landscape

Section 3: Strategic Goals

Section 4: Operational Foundation

3. STRATEGY FOUNDATION TOOLS

Purpose Statement (Ikigai Framework)

PESTEL Analysis (Macro Environment)

Porter's 5 Forces (Competitive Analysis)

TUNA Analysis (Volatility Assessment)

Blue Ocean Strategy (Differentiation Framework)

4. 30-DAY STRATEGIC BEHAVIOR PROGRAM

What It Is

Program Structure

Behavioral Science Foundation

Visual Elements

How It Works

Week 4: Special Offer for Strategy Only Users

What Makes This Different from Generic Email Sequences

5. STRATEGIC FOUNDATION REPORT

What You Get

How to Generate Report

How to Use the Report

6. STRATEGIC FRAMEWORKS EXPLAINED

Why These Frameworks?

When to Use Each Framework

Framework Thinking Process

7. UPGRADING TO PRO USER

What You're Missing (Strategy Only Limitations)

When to Upgrade

How to Upgrade

8. SUPPORT & RESOURCES

Getting Help

Common Questions

QUICK REFERENCE