Blue Ocean Strategy Workshop

The Blue Ocean Strategy Workshop

(inspired by insights contained in the book "Blue Ocean Strategy" by W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne)

Read time: 5 minutes

Cover of the book "Blue Ocean Strategy" by W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne, featuring a calm ocean and a bright yellow starburst announcing over 4 million copies sold worldwide.

The book "Blue Ocean Strategy" by W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne presents a framework for businesses to achieve sustainable growth by creating uncontested market space rather than competing in saturated markets.

In this article, I’m excited to share an interactive, dynamic workshop to create your own Blue Ocean Strategy.

Using proven frameworks and tools, you’ll learn how to step away from fiercely competitive markets (Red Oceans) and discover new, uncontested market spaces (Blue Oceans).

This workshop is designed to help you systematically innovate, find new customer segments and craft strategies that differentiate you from the competition.

Why does this matter?

In today’s fast-paced environment, competing on the same metrics as everyone else often results in diminishing returns, price wars, and stagnant growth.

To grow, you must create a market space where competition is irrelevant—a Blue Ocean.

This mindset will drive differentiation and foster growth and sustainability in your business.

Most organisations fail in this area because they are constrained by conventional industry norms and the belief that innovation must be costly or risky.

They don’t realise they can unlock hidden growth opportunities by systematically applying a new perspective to existing challenges.

This workshop provides participants practical, hands-on tools to break these mental barriers and create differentiated, cost-effective value.

"Organisations that embrace a growth mindset create cultures where Blue Ocean thinking flourishes.”

Comparison chart: Red Oceans have intense competition and commoditization, while Blue Oceans offer uncontested market space and innovation opportunities.

Red Oceans have intense competition while Blue Oceans offer uncontested market space and innovation opportunities.

Key benefits of this workshop:

  • Understand the difference between Red and Blue oceans: Learn why traditional competition limits growth and how to create uncontested market space.
  • Step-by-step guidance on blue ocean tools: Gain practical insights on how to use the Strategy Canvas, Four Actions Framework, and Six Paths Framework.
  • Identify noncustomers and new opportunities: Explore ways to find and convert noncustomers into loyal patrons.
  • Overcome common barriers to innovation: Understand why most organisations fail to innovate effectively and how to avoid these pitfalls.
  • Hands-on techniques for real-world impact: Take away actionable tools and activities that can be implemented immediately in your organisation.

Here’s a simple workshop designed to help teams innovate using the insights from the book "Blue Ocean Strategy" by W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne.

The agenda balances presentation, discussion, and practical application to ensure participants remain engaged and leave with actionable insights.

Let’s get into it…

Workshop Title: Creating Our Blue Ocean Strategy

Duration: 1 Day (9:00 AM - 4:30 PM)

Objective: To create uncontested market space for our organisation and systematically innovate beyond our existing competition.

9:00 AM - 9:30 AM: Welcome & Introduction

  • Objective: Build rapport and set the stage for the Blue Ocean mindset.
  • Activity: Icebreaker — Attendees introduce themselves and share a product or service they think created a "Blue Ocean" in their industry.

9:30 AM - 10:30 AM: Understanding Red Oceans vs. Blue Oceans

  • Presentation: Overview of Red Oceans vs. Blue Oceans (30 mins)

    ↳ Introduction to the core concepts of "Blue Ocean Strategy".

  • Interactive Group Discussion: “Finding Red Oceans” (30 mins)

    ↳ In small groups, attendees identify industries with intense competition and share examples with the larger group.

10:30 AM - 10:45 AM: Break

10:45 AM - 12:00 PM: Value Innovation and the Four Actions Framework

  • Presentation: Introduction to Value Innovation and the Four Actions Framework (15 mins).
  • Group Exercise: Applying the Four Actions Framework (45 mins)

    ↳ In groups, participants pick a familiar industry and brainstorm how to Eliminate, Reduce, Raise, and Create factors to redefine market boundaries.

  • Share Back: Groups present their ideas (15 mins).

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Lunch Break

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: The Strategy Canvas

  • Presentation: How to Use the Strategy Canvas (15 mins).
  • Hands-On Exercise: Mapping a Strategy Canvas (45 mins)

    ↳ Attendees work individually or in pairs to map the current state of a specific industry and identify opportunities for differentiation.

  • Gallery Walk: Participants post their canvases on the wall, and everyone walks around to view and leave sticky-note feedback.

2:00 PM - 2:45 PM: Noncustomers and New Demand

  • Presentation: Targeting Noncustomers (15 mins).
  • Interactive Activity: “Who Are the Noncustomers?” (30 mins)

    ↳ In groups, attendees identify potential noncustomers for a given product or service and brainstorm ways to convert them.

  • Debrief: Each group shares their key insights.

2:45 PM - 3:00 PM: Break

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Designing a Blue Ocean Move with the Six Paths Framework

  • Presentation: Introduction to the Six Paths Framework (15 mins)
  • Hands-On Workshop: Craft Your Own Blue Ocean Strategy (45 mins)

    ↳ Participants apply the Six Paths Framework to their own company or project, using tools like the Four Actions Framework and Strategy Canvas to design a strategic move.

  • Debrief: Each group shares their Blue Ocean Strategy.

4:00 PM - 4:30 PM: Reflection & Closing

  • Group Reflection: What are your key takeaways? (15 mins)

    ↳ Attendees share their reflections and commitments to applying the Blue Ocean principles.

  • Wrap-Up & Next Steps: Summary of the day's learning and how to continue the journey (15 mins).

    ↳ Participants receive handouts summarising key frameworks and resources for further learning.

Post-Workshop

Follow-Up: Encourage attendees to join an online discussion forum or a follow-up workshop to share their progress.

Conclusion

By using this workshop, you’ll never have to struggle with competing in overcrowded markets with diminishing returns.

Instead, it becomes a simple, structured process of identifying untapped opportunities and systematically creating value where competition is irrelevant, moving from a challenging position to a space of innovation and growth.

If you want the unbranded slides and handouts for this workshop, you can get them in my Bestselling Book Workshops Bundle.

You get this workshop and many others, including PowerPoint and Apple Keynote slides, workbooks, training videos, and spreadsheets.

If growing teams and organizations using the power of workshops is a goal of yours, you can shortcut your journey and join 11,000+ others with our Products.

See you next week.

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About the Author

Nick Martin helps leaders & consultants improve team results with resources, advice & coaching through WorkshopBank.com

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