jeremyjdo /sench-valuechain - Value Chain Analysis
Systematic decomposition of market activities to identify where value is created, captured, or lost.
Usage
/sench-valuechain {market/industry} # Default (English)
/sench-valuechain {market/industry} --fr # French output
/sench-valuechain {market/industry} --en # English output (explicit)
Objective
Decompose the market into its full activity chain to systematically identify:
- Where value is created, captured, or lost
- Opportunity areas not visible through customer-centric analysis alone
- Structural inefficiencies and friction points
Workflow
Input (market/industry) + optional --fr/--en
↓
1. End-to-End Chain Mapping
↓
2. Actor Identification per Step
↓
3. Dynamics & Trends Analysis
↓
4. Friction & Opportunity Detection
↓
5. Report → {market}_valuechain.md
Rules
- Map full chain first - complete picture before zooming in
- Include all directions - upstream, core, and downstream activities
- Capture handovers - transitions between steps are often friction sources
- Separate facts from assumptions - clearly label uncertain information
- Single output file -
{market}_valuechain.md - Sources required - include URLs for all data
Phase 1: End-to-End Chain Mapping
Guiding Questions
- What are all the steps from raw input to final delivery?
- Which activities happen before, during, and after the core product/service?
- What supporting activities enable the primary chain?
- Where does the chain start and where does it end for different actors?
Search Queries
# Chain Structure
"{market}" value chain analysis
"{market}" supply chain structure
"{market}" industry workflow
"{market}" process flow
# Actor Discovery
"{market}" key players by segment
"{market}" suppliers distributors
"{market}" intermediaries
"{market}" B2B ecosystem
# Economics
"{market}" margin structure
"{market}" cost breakdown
"{market}" pricing analysis
"{market}" revenue distribution
Phase 2: Actor Identification
For Each Step, Identify:
| Aspect | Questions |
|---|---|
| Players | Who operates at this step? Incumbents, challengers, startups? |
| Concentration | Is this step fragmented or consolidated? |
| Margins | What percentage of total value is captured here? |
| Barriers | What prevents entry at this step? |
| Dependencies | What upstream/downstream relationships exist? |
Actor Categories
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ ACTOR MAPPING │
├─────────────┬─────────────┬─────────────┬─────────────────────┤
│ Incumbents │ Challengers │ Startups │ Adjacent Entrants │
├─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────────────┤
│ Market │ Growing │ Funded │ Companies from │
│ leaders │ share │ innovators │ related markets │
│ >10% share │ 2-10% │ <2% │ expanding here │
└─────────────┴─────────────┴─────────────┴─────────────────────┘
Phase 3: Dynamics & Trends Analysis
Per Step Analysis
| Dimension | What to Capture |
|---|---|
| Trends | What forces are reshaping this step? |
| Technology | What tech is enabling/disrupting here? |
| Regulation | What rules affect this step? |
| Behavior | How are actors/customers changing? |
| Investment | Where is capital flowing? |
Trend Categories
- Structural shifts - fundamental changes in how step operates
- Technology enablers - new capabilities changing economics
- Regulatory drivers - rules creating or removing opportunities
- Behavioral changes - evolving expectations and practices
Phase 4: Friction & Opportunity Detection
Friction Types
| Type | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Handover friction | Problems at transitions between steps | Manual data re-entry |
| Information asymmetry | Unequal access to data | Opaque pricing |
| Coordination failure | Misaligned incentives | Channel conflicts |
| Capacity mismatch | Supply/demand imbalance | Seasonal bottlenecks |
| Quality variance | Inconsistent outputs | Unreliable service levels |
Opportunity Signals
- Steps with high margins but low digitization
- Fragmented steps with many small players
- Steps frequently bypassed or disintermediated
- Steps with high customer complaint rates
- Steps where incumbents underinvest
- Steps appearing unattractive today but strategic tomorrow
Phase 5: Report
Output: {market}_valuechain.md
Language Parameter
- Default or
--en: English output --fr: French output (use French headers and content)
# {Market} - Value Chain Analysis
*{date}*
---
## Executive Summary
{3-4 sentences: chain overview, key findings, primary opportunity areas identified}
---
## Value Chain Overview
### Visual Map
{ASCII representation of full chain}
Example: ┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐ │ Step 1 │───▶│ Step 2 │───▶│ Step 3 │───▶│ Step 4 │───▶│ Step 5 │ │ {name} │ │ {name} │ │ {name} │ │ {name} │ │ {name} │ └──────────┘ └──────────┘ └──────────┘ └──────────┘ └──────────┘ │ │ │ │ │ {X%} {X%} {X%} {X%} {X%} margin margin margin margin margin
### Chain Summary
| Step | Primary Actors | Margin Share | Digitization | Concentration |
|------|----------------|--------------|--------------|---------------|
| {Step 1} | {actors} | {X%} | {Low/Med/High} | {Fragmented/Concentrated} |
| {Step 2} | {actors} | {X%} | {Low/Med/High} | {Fragmented/Concentrated} |
---
## Step-by-Step Analysis
### {Step 1 Name}
**Definition:** {what happens at this step}
| Aspect | Detail |
|--------|--------|
| **Key Players** | {list of companies} |
| **Market Structure** | {fragmented/consolidated, # of players} |
| **Margin Capture** | {X% of total value} |
| **Digitization Level** | {Low/Medium/High} |
| **Entry Barriers** | {capital, regulation, relationships} |
**Trends Shaping This Step:**
- {trend 1} - {impact}
- {trend 2} - {impact}
**Frictions Observed:**
- {friction 1}
- {friction 2}
**Opportunity Signals:**
- {signal 1}
- {signal 2}
{Repeat for each step}
---
## Upstream Dependencies
| Supplier Category | Key Players | Relationship Type | Risk Level |
|-------------------|-------------|-------------------|------------|
| {category 1} | {players} | {contractual/spot/integrated} | {Low/Med/High} |
| {category 2} | {players} | {contractual/spot/integrated} | {Low/Med/High} |
---
## Downstream Channels
| Channel | % of Volume | Key Players | Margin Captured |
|---------|-------------|-------------|-----------------|
| {channel 1} | {X%} | {players} | {X%} |
| {channel 2} | {X%} | {players} | {X%} |
---
## Cross-Chain Dynamics
### Value Flow Analysis
| From Step | To Step | Value Transferred | Friction Level |
|-----------|---------|-------------------|----------------|
| {step A} | {step B} | {description} | {Low/Med/High} |
### Integration Patterns
| Pattern | Players | Rationale |
|---------|---------|-----------|
| Vertical integration | {who} | {why} |
| Horizontal expansion | {who} | {why} |
| Platform plays | {who} | {why} |
---
## Opportunity Matrix
### By Step
| Step | Opportunity Type | Description | Attractiveness |
|------|------------------|-------------|----------------|
| {step} | {unbundling/bundling/digitization/disintermediation} | {description} | {High/Med/Low} |
### Underserved Areas
| Area | Why Underserved | Potential Solution | Size Estimate |
|------|-----------------|-------------------|---------------|
| {area 1} | {reason} | {solution type} | {€Xm} |
| {area 2} | {reason} | {solution type} | {€Xm} |
### Strategic Questions
1. Which step would yield disproportionate returns if improved?
2. Where are incumbents structurally unable to innovate?
3. What adjacent players could enter and reshape the chain?
---
## Assumptions & Limitations
### Explicit Assumptions
1. {Assumption 1}
2. {Assumption 2}
### Data Gaps
- {gap 1} - {impact on analysis}
- {gap 2} - {impact on analysis}
### Recommended Validation
| Topic | Expert Type | Questions |
|-------|-------------|-----------|
| {topic 1} | {operator/investor/regulator} | {questions to validate} |
| {topic 2} | {operator/investor/regulator} | {questions to validate} |
---
## Sources
- {Source 1}: {url}
- {Source 2}: {url}
- {Industry report}: {url}
- {Company disclosure}: {url}