Business Blueprint Masterlist

What artifacts keep a business on course — and in what order do you build them?

Every entry below is a control loop, not a document. A cash flow forecast compared to actual is a sensor. A marketing plan with measured results is a feedback loop. The artifact is only valuable when it is filled in, acted on, and updated.

Gold Standard column = the best available reference for what good looks like. An ISO standard where one exists, a Wikipedia article where convention governs. Knowing which tier a reference belongs to tells you whether you are deferring to a formal obligation or defining your own standard.

Tier	Meaning
Formal	ISO, IASB/IFRS, IEEE, PMI, or statutory body. Compliance is legally or professionally mandated in some jurisdictions.
Industry	NVCA, APQC, AICPA, GDPR supervisory authority, or sector trade body. Represents consensus, not statute.
Convention	No governing body. Wikipedia cited as the most stable community reference. Structure is determined by practitioner practice.

Linked blueprint = file exists. Plain text = gap in the library.

Strategy (15)

Blueprint	Format	Job to Be Done	Gold Standard	Tier
opportunity-scanner	doc	Surveys market signals, technology shifts, and competitor moves to surface candidate strategic bets for leadership.	Wikipedia — Environmental scanning	Convention
idea-capture	doc	Extracts first principles from a raw idea — what must be true, what the JTBD is, what the 7-day test looks like.	Wikipedia — Business plan	Convention
business-plan	doc	Articulates the business model, market opportunity, financial projections, and operational plan to secure alignment or external funding.	Wikipedia — Business plan	Convention
corporate-strategy	doc	Defines multi-year directional choices about markets, capabilities, and resource allocation to guide the entire organisation.	Wikipedia — Strategic management	Convention
swot-analysis	doc	Maps internal strengths and weaknesses against external opportunities and threats to expose the strategic position.	Wikipedia — SWOT analysis	Convention
okr-framework	doc	Links company-wide ambitions (Objectives) to measurable outcomes (Key Results) so every team knows what winning looks like this cycle.	Wikipedia — OKR	Convention
board-deck	pres	Gives directors the periodic view of performance, risks, and key decisions needed to fulfil their governance obligations.	Wikipedia — Board of directors	Convention
annual-report	doc	Discloses audited financial results and governance narrative to shareholders, regulators, and the public.	Wikipedia — Annual report	Industry
ma-thesis	doc	Defines the strategic rationale, target criteria, synergy hypothesis, and risk factors for a proposed acquisition or merger.	Wikipedia — Mergers and acquisitions	Convention
exit-memo	doc	Records the decision framework, valuation logic, and process milestones for a planned liquidity event or wind-down.	Wikipedia — Exit strategy	Convention
scenario-plan	doc	Models multiple plausible futures and the strategic responses appropriate to each, reducing surprise in uncertain environments.	Wikipedia — Scenario planning	Convention
venture-pitch	pres	Communicates the problem, solution, market size, traction, and team to potential investors to secure a funding commitment.	Wikipedia — Pitch deck	Convention
one-page-plan	doc	Condenses key strategic priorities and near-term targets onto a single page to align a small team without bureaucracy.	Wikipedia — Business plan	Convention
stakeholder-map	diag	Identifies and classifies all parties with interest in or influence over the business so engagement effort can be prioritised.	Wikipedia — Stakeholder analysis	Convention
portfolio-review	pres	Evaluates the performance and strategic fit of each business unit or investment to enable resource reallocation decisions.	Wikipedia — Portfolio management	Convention

Finance (21)

Blueprint	Format	Job to Be Done	Gold Standard	Tier
income-statement	ss	Reports revenue, expenses, and net income over a period to show whether the business is profitable.	IFRS — IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements	Formal
balance-sheet	ss	Shows assets, liabilities, and equity at a point in time to reveal solvency and capital structure.	IFRS — IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements	Formal
cash-flow-statement	ss	Tracks cash inflows and outflows across operating, investing, and financing activities to reveal actual liquidity.	IFRS — IAS 7 Statement of Cash Flows	Formal
budget	ss	Allocates expected revenue and expense by cost centre and period to authorise spending and set accountability targets.	Wikipedia — Budget	Convention
cash-flow-projection	ss	Projects cash receipts and payments week-by-week to ensure the business never runs out of money.	Wikipedia — Cash flow forecasting	Convention
unit-economics	ss	Calculates per-unit revenue, cost, and contribution margin so the business can judge whether scaling improves or destroys value.	Wikipedia — Unit economics	Convention
roi-analysis	ss	Compares the financial return of an investment against its cost to justify capital allocation decisions.	Wikipedia — Return on investment	Convention
financial-model	ss	Integrates historical data and forward assumptions into a linked three-statement model to support planning and fundraising decisions.	Wikipedia — Financial modeling	Convention
cap-table	ss	Records every share class, ownership percentage, and option pool so dilution and liquidation waterfalls can be calculated precisely.	NVCA — Model Legal Documents	Industry
waterfall-analysis	ss	Models how proceeds from a liquidity event distribute across share classes and preferences to show what each investor and employee receives.	Wikipedia — Liquidation preference	Convention
data-room	db	Organises due diligence documents in a secure, auditable repository so investors or acquirers can complete structured review.	Wikipedia — Data room	Convention
investor-update	doc	Reports portfolio company progress, key metrics, and asks to existing investors on a regular cadence to maintain trust and access.	Wikipedia — Investor relations	Convention
investor-map	doc	Applies ICP thinking to the investor universe — fund thesis fit, stage and check-size match, warm-intro routing.	Wikipedia — Investor relations	Convention
409a-valuation	doc	Establishes the IRS safe-harbour fair market value of common stock so options can be priced without triggering deferred compensation penalties.	Wikipedia — IRC Section 409A	Formal
valuation-comps	ss	Benchmarks a company's valuation multiples against comparable public or private peers to anchor a negotiating position.	Wikipedia — Valuation using multiples	Convention
accounts-receivable-aging	ss	Lists outstanding invoices by age to prioritise collections and signal credit risk before it becomes a cash crisis.	Wikipedia — Accounts receivable	Convention
accounts-payable-schedule	ss	Tracks outstanding payables and due dates so the business can time payments to preserve cash without damaging supplier relationships.	Wikipedia — Accounts payable	Convention
payroll-register	ss	Records every employee's gross pay, deductions, and net pay for each pay period to fulfil wage, tax, and audit obligations.	Wikipedia — Payroll	Convention
chart-of-accounts	db	Defines the complete list of account codes used in the general ledger so financial transactions are classified consistently.	Wikipedia — Chart of accounts	Convention
audit-report	doc	Provides an independent auditor's opinion on whether the financial statements present a true and fair view in accordance with applicable standards.	AICPA — Statements on Auditing Standards	Formal
tax-return	doc	Reports taxable income, deductions, and tax liability to the relevant authority to fulfil statutory compliance obligations.	Wikipedia — Tax return	Formal

Marketing (16)

Blueprint	Format	Job to Be Done	Gold Standard	Tier
brand-guide	doc	Defines logo usage, colour palette, typography, voice, and visual rules so every piece of communication is instantly recognisable.	Wikipedia — Brand management	Convention
visual-art-direction	doc	Maps each phase of the venture journey to a distinct visual register so images reinforce the emotional arc of the story.	Wikipedia — Art direction	Convention
ideal-customer-profile	doc	Describes the firmographic, demographic, and behavioural traits of the highest-value target customer so energy is not scattered.	Wikipedia — Customer segmentation	Convention
positioning-statement	doc	Declares what the brand does, for whom, and why it is different in one or two sentences — the anchor for all messaging decisions.	Wikipedia — Positioning (marketing)	Convention
go-to-market-strategy	doc	Plans the coordinated launch of a product or market entry across channels, pricing, and messages to generate adoption at target unit economics.	Wikipedia — Go-to-market strategy	Convention
lead-magnet	doc	Delivers a high-value resource in exchange for contact information, converting anonymous visitors into identified prospects.	Wikipedia — Lead generation	Convention
marketing-plan	doc	Outlines marketing objectives, target segments, tactics, budget, and success metrics for a defined period to direct team activity.	Wikipedia — Marketing plan	Convention
campaign-brief	doc	Specifies the goal, audience, message, channels, and success metrics for a single campaign so creative and media teams are aligned.	Wikipedia — Advertising campaign	Convention
content-calendar	ss	Schedules content topics, formats, channels, and owners across a planning horizon to ensure consistent and purposeful publication.	Wikipedia — Editorial calendar	Convention
media-plan	ss	Schedules paid media placements, budgets, and expected reach by channel and date to optimise spend against awareness goals.	Wikipedia — Media planning	Convention
seo-audit	doc	Analyses a site's technical health, content relevance, and backlink profile to identify ranked improvements against organic search goals.	Wikipedia — Search engine optimisation	Convention
social-media-strategy	doc	Defines platform selection, content pillars, posting cadence, and community management approach to build audience and drive traffic.	Wikipedia — Social media marketing	Convention
email-nurture-sequence	doc	Scripts the automated message flow that moves a new lead from awareness to purchase readiness over a defined time window.	Wikipedia — Email marketing	Convention
press-release-template	doc	Provides a reusable structure for announcing news to journalists in the inverted-pyramid format expected by the media.	Wikipedia — Press release	Convention
analyst-briefing	pres	Updates industry analysts on product strategy and traction to influence their coverage, scoring, and buyer guidance.	Wikipedia — Analyst relations	Convention
competitive-positioning-analysis	doc	Benchmarks competitor positioning, channels, and messaging to reveal uncontested space and sharpen differentiation.	Wikipedia — Competitor analysis	Convention

Sales (12)

Blueprint	Format	Job to Be Done	Gold Standard	Tier
sales-playbook	doc	Codifies the repeatable sales methodology, talk tracks, qualification criteria, and objection responses so every rep performs to the standard of the best.	Wikipedia — Sales process engineering	Convention
proposal-template	doc	Provides a reusable structure for scoping, pricing, and positioning the offer in terms of the prospect's specific situation and desired outcome.	Wikipedia — Proposal (business)	Convention
rfp-response	doc	Answers a buyer's formal request for proposal point-by-point to demonstrate fit and differentiation against a structured evaluation.	Wikipedia — Request for proposal	Convention
pricing-sheet	ss	Publishes the product or service SKUs, list prices, discount tiers, and bundling rules so quotes are consistent and margin-aware.	Wikipedia — Pricing	Convention
objection-handling-guide	doc	Documents the most common buyer objections alongside proven responses so reps can maintain momentum without escalating.	Wikipedia — Sales process engineering	Convention
account-plan	doc	Maps stakeholders, relationships, deal history, and expansion opportunities within a strategic account to prioritise engagement and grow revenue.	Wikipedia — Key account management	Convention
qbr-deck	pres	Reviews results, challenges, and plans for the next quarter with a key customer to deepen partnership and surface upsell opportunities.	Wikipedia — Business review	Convention
crm-data-model	db	Defines the objects, fields, and relationships in the CRM system so customer data is captured consistently and drives pipeline reporting.	Wikipedia — Customer relationship management	Convention
sales-forecast	ss	Projects expected revenue by representative, product, and period from current pipeline data to enable resource and capacity planning.	Wikipedia — Sales forecasting	Convention
contract-template	doc	Provides a pre-negotiated legal structure for the commercial relationship so deals close faster and legal risk is bounded.	Wikipedia — Contract	Convention
order-form	doc	Records the specific product, price, quantity, and terms agreed at point of sale to initiate delivery and billing.	Wikipedia — Purchase order	Convention
commission-plan	doc	Defines how sales compensation is calculated against quota attainment to motivate the right revenue-generating behaviours.	Wikipedia — Commission (remuneration)	Convention

Product (12)

Blueprint	Format	Job to Be Done	Gold Standard	Tier
business-idea-checklist	doc	Runs a 7-stage progressive validation to determine whether a business idea should advance or be killed before significant capital is committed.	Wikipedia — New product development	Convention
model-selection	doc	Maps the problem type to the delivery capability and selects the business model that best captures value for the target customer.	Wikipedia — Business model	Convention
prd-spec	doc	Specifies what a product or feature must do, for whom, and why, so engineering can build the right thing without repeated clarification.	Wikipedia — Product requirements document	Convention
ai-priorities-review	doc	Evaluates the business impact, feasibility, and risk of candidate AI features against current model capabilities to set the AI roadmap.	Wikipedia — Artificial intelligence in industry	Convention
product-roadmap	diag	Communicates the sequence and timing of planned features and releases to align stakeholders on where the product is heading.	Wikipedia — Technology roadmap	Convention
user-story-map	diag	Arranges user stories by journey sequence and release priority so the team builds a walking skeleton before adding depth.	Wikipedia — User story	Convention
wireframe-spec	diag	Defines the layout, navigation, and information hierarchy of screens without visual styling so UX decisions are debated early.	Wikipedia — Website wireframe	Convention
release-notes	doc	Documents what changed in each software release so users, support, and downstream integrators understand what is new or fixed.	Wikipedia — Release notes	Convention
ux-research-report	doc	Synthesises user interview, usability test, or survey findings into actionable insights that update product and design decisions.	Wikipedia — Usability testing	Convention
competitive-feature-matrix	ss	Plots feature-by-feature coverage across competing products to expose gaps the business can exploit or must close.	Wikipedia — Competitor analysis	Convention
beta-test-plan	doc	Defines the scope, participant criteria, success metrics, and feedback mechanisms for a pre-release test with real users.	Wikipedia — Software testing	Convention
product-brief	doc	Summarises the problem, customer, solution hypothesis, and success criteria for a new initiative so stakeholders align before detailed spec work begins.	Wikipedia — Product management	Convention

Engineering (12)

Blueprint	Format	Job to Be Done	Gold Standard	Tier
technical-specification	doc	Defines the precise functional and non-functional requirements, interfaces, and constraints an engineer must satisfy before writing any code.	Wikipedia — Functional specification	Convention
architecture-decision-record	doc	Captures a significant architectural choice — context, options, decision, and consequences — so future engineers understand why the system is designed as it is.	adr.github.io — Architecture Decision Records	Convention
api-documentation	doc	Describes every endpoint, parameter, request/response schema, and authentication pattern so external and internal developers can integrate correctly.	Wikipedia — API	Convention
system-design-doc	doc	Maps the major components, data flows, and scaling assumptions of a new system so engineers agree on the architecture before implementation begins.	ISO/IEC/IEEE 42010 — Architecture description	Formal
security-policy	doc	Defines access controls, data classification, incident response procedures, and acceptable use rules to protect information assets.	ISO/IEC 27001 — Information security management	Formal
disaster-recovery-plan	doc	Specifies recovery time objectives, recovery point objectives, and step-by-step procedures for restoring systems after a catastrophic failure.	Wikipedia — Disaster recovery	Convention
runbook	doc	Provides step-by-step procedures for operating, monitoring, and troubleshooting a specific system or service in production.	Wikipedia — Runbook	Convention
incident-post-mortem	doc	Records the timeline, root cause, contributing factors, and preventive actions for a production incident to stop it recurring.	Wikipedia — Post-mortem documentation	Convention
code-review-checklist	doc	Lists the quality, security, and style criteria a pull request must satisfy before it is merged, reducing defect escape rate.	Wikipedia — Code review	Convention
deployment-checklist	doc	Enumerates the verification steps that must pass before and after a release to minimise the risk of introducing production incidents.	Wikipedia — Software deployment	Convention
data-model-erd	diag	Visualises entity types, attributes, and relationships in a database to align engineers and analysts before schema is built.	Wikipedia — Entity–relationship model	Convention
infrastructure-diagram	diag	Maps the physical and logical components of a system's infrastructure — servers, networks, cloud services — to support planning, security review, and incident response.	ISO/IEC/IEEE 42010 — Architecture description	Formal

Operations (10)

Blueprint	Format	Job to Be Done	Gold Standard	Tier
standard-operating-procedure	doc	Documents the definitive step-by-step method for completing a recurring task so quality and safety are consistent regardless of who performs it.	Wikipedia — Standard operating procedure	Convention
process-map	diag	Visualises the sequence of activities, decision points, and roles in a business process to expose inefficiency and enable improvement.	APQC — Process Mapping Basics	Industry
quality-manual	doc	Describes the quality management system scope, policies, and procedures an organisation uses to meet ISO 9001 or equivalent requirements.	ISO 9001:2015 — Quality management	Formal
vendor-contract	doc	Establishes the commercial, legal, and service-level terms governing a supplier relationship to protect both parties and define recourse.	Wikipedia — Contract	Convention
facilities-plan	doc	Defines space requirements, layout, maintenance schedules, and lease terms to ensure the physical environment supports operational needs.	Wikipedia — Facility management	Convention
supply-chain-map	diag	Traces the flow of goods, information, and money from raw material to end customer to identify bottlenecks and single-point risks.	Wikipedia — Supply chain	Convention
incident-report	doc	Records the facts, actions taken, and root cause of an operational failure to fulfil regulatory obligations and prevent recurrence.	Wikipedia — Incident report	Convention
business-continuity-plan	doc	Provides the procedures and responsibilities for sustaining critical operations through a disruptive event so recovery time is minimised.	ISO 22301:2019 — Business continuity	Formal
change-management-plan	doc	Defines the communication, training, and transition steps for a significant operational change to reduce resistance and speed adoption.	Wikipedia — Change management	Convention
scorecard	dash	Presents the key operational metrics so managers can detect deviations and act before they become crises.	Wikipedia — Balanced scorecard	Convention

HR (11)

Blueprint	Format	Job to Be Done	Gold Standard	Tier
job-description	doc	Specifies the responsibilities, required qualifications, and reporting structure for a role to attract suitable candidates and set clear expectations.	Wikipedia — Job description	Convention
offer-letter	doc	Confirms the employment terms — role, compensation, start date, and conditions — constituting the formal record of hire.	Wikipedia — Offer letter	Convention
employee-handbook	doc	Communicates company policies, culture norms, and legal obligations to all employees so the employment relationship operates within consistent rules.	Wikipedia — Employee handbook	Convention
onboarding-checklist	doc	Lists every task, access, and introduction a new hire must complete in their first days to reach productive velocity quickly.	Wikipedia — Onboarding	Convention
performance-review-template	doc	Provides a structured format for evaluating an employee's contributions, development, and goals to enable fair calibration across managers.	Wikipedia — Performance appraisal	Convention
compensation-bands	ss	Defines the salary range for each role and level so pay decisions are consistent, equitable, and defensible.	Wikipedia — Salary	Convention
org-chart	diag	Visualises reporting relationships and team structure so new hires, external partners, and leadership can navigate authority and accountability.	Wikipedia — Organizational chart	Convention
succession-plan	doc	Identifies critical roles and internal candidates ready to fill them so leadership continuity survives unexpected departures.	Wikipedia — Succession planning	Convention
training-plan	doc	Outlines the skills gaps, learning objectives, content, and schedule for developing employee capability to close a defined performance gap.	Wikipedia — Training and development	Convention
exit-interview-template	doc	Structures questions that capture a departing employee's candid experience so patterns in attrition become visible and addressable.	Wikipedia — Exit interview	Convention
raci-matrix	ss	Assigns Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, and Informed roles to every activity in a process so accountability is unambiguous.	Wikipedia — Responsibility assignment matrix	Convention

Legal (11)

Blueprint	Format	Job to Be Done	Gold Standard	Tier
shareholder-agreement	doc	Governs the rights, obligations, transfer restrictions, and dispute resolution between equity holders so ownership disputes are prevented before they arise.	Wikipedia — Shareholders' agreement	Convention
nda	doc	Creates a legally enforceable obligation of confidentiality so sensitive information can be shared without the risk of public or competitor disclosure.	Wikipedia — Non-disclosure agreement	Convention
service-agreement-msa-sow	doc	Defines the scope of services, deliverables, payment terms, and liabilities between a vendor and client to create a binding commercial relationship.	Wikipedia — Master service agreement	Convention
privacy-policy	doc	Discloses how the business collects, uses, and protects personal data to fulfil regulatory obligations and build user trust.	Wikipedia — Privacy policy	Formal
terms-of-service	doc	States the rules governing use of the product or platform, limiting liability and establishing the legal relationship with every user.	Wikipedia — Terms of service	Convention
compliance-checklist	doc	Lists every regulatory requirement applicable to the business and its current status so leadership knows where obligations are unmet.	Wikipedia — Regulatory compliance	Convention
ip-assignment-agreement	doc	Transfers intellectual property created by employees, contractors, or founders to the company to ensure the business owns what it builds.	Wikipedia — Intellectual property	Convention
board-minutes	doc	Records the resolutions, votes, and material discussions from board meetings as the authoritative legal evidence of corporate governance decisions.	Wikipedia — Minutes	Convention
employment-agreement	doc	Establishes the terms of employment — compensation, duties, IP ownership, and termination conditions — in a legally binding contract.	Wikipedia — Employment contract	Convention
data-processing-agreement	doc	Governs how a data processor handles personal data on behalf of a controller to ensure GDPR Article 28 compliance.	GDPR.eu — Data Processing Agreement	Formal
articles-of-incorporation	doc	Formally establishes the legal existence of a corporation with the relevant authority, defining its name, purpose, and equity structure.	Wikipedia — Articles of incorporation	Formal

Data (10)

Blueprint	Format	Job to Be Done	Gold Standard	Tier
data-dictionary	db	Defines every data element — its name, type, owner, definition, and permissible values — so analysts and engineers work from a shared truth.	Wikipedia — Data dictionary	Convention
dashboard-spec	doc	Specifies the metrics, dimensions, filters, refresh cadence, and audience for a dashboard so it is built once and trusted.	Wikipedia — Dashboard (business)	Convention
kpi-framework	doc	Defines each key performance indicator — formula, source, owner, target, and reporting frequency — to connect measurement to strategic intent.	Wikipedia — Key performance indicator	Convention
analytics-audit	doc	Assesses the completeness, accuracy, and integrity of an analytics setup to identify tracking gaps before decisions are made on bad data.	Wikipedia — Web analytics	Convention
data-governance-policy	doc	Establishes the rules, roles, and accountability structures for data quality, access, and usage across the organisation.	Wikipedia — Data governance	Convention
data-lineage-map	diag	Traces how data flows from source systems through transformations to reporting endpoints so discrepancies can be diagnosed and audited.	Wikipedia — Data lineage	Convention
bi-report-template	doc	Provides a reusable structure for a recurring business intelligence report so analysts spend time on insight, not reformatting.	Wikipedia — Business intelligence	Convention
ab-test-plan	doc	Defines the hypothesis, metric, sample size, duration, and decision rule for a controlled experiment before it runs, preventing p-hacking.	Wikipedia — A/B testing	Convention
cohort-analysis-template	ss	Segments users by a shared starting characteristic and tracks their behaviour over time to distinguish product improvement from mix shift.	Wikipedia — Cohort analysis	Convention
attribution-model-spec	doc	Defines which touchpoints receive credit for a conversion and how credit is distributed, so marketing spend decisions are based on consistent causal logic.	Wikipedia — Attribution (marketing)	Convention

Library Coverage

Function	Total	Blueprints Built	Gap
Strategy	15	5	10
Finance	21	7	14
Marketing	16	6	10
Sales	12	1	11
Product	12	4	8
Engineering	12	0	12
Operations	10	1	9
HR	11	0	11
Legal	11	0	11
Data	10	0	10
Total	120	24	96

Plain text rows are gaps. Linked rows are built. The gap list is the backlog.

Context

Naming Standards — The blueprint-{function}-{name}.md convention and business function vocabulary
Standard Templates — Three layers: template, procedure, artifact
Business Models — How value flows (50+ models)
Data Footprint — The commissioning instrument
Mycelium Ventures — Ventures building through the instrument loop

Questions

If a document has no governing standard body, who decides what good looks like — and how do you make that decision traceable?

Which function in your business has the weakest artifact library — and what is the downstream cost of running without those control loops?
When a Convention-tier artifact fails, what is the escalation path — and who owns the definition of good?
Which Formal-tier artifact does your business treat as Convention (filling it in however feels right) — and what compliance exposure does that create?
If you built one new blueprint this quarter, which gap in the coverage table would have the highest compounding return across the rest of the library?

Library Coverage​

Context​

Links​

Questions​

Library Coverage

Context

Links

Questions