Figure 5 outlines a somewhat standard every-business-looks-like-this flowchart. Internal communication channels are numbered 1 through 6, communication channels between the organization and its customers are lettered A through E. Each of these network elements can be further detailed in a hierarchical manner using the HITO Graphic Tool.
Figure 5: Business Venture Communications Network Tool
The "alpha" communication channels in Figure 5 are external, between business venture departments and customers:
A] The Innovation Department communicating with customers to determine what customer problems, needs, wants, and desire the venture should address
B] The Marketing Department communicating with customers to promote current venture solutions, product, services, and processes that solve current customer problems, and obtain feedback from customers relating to the performance of the venture in solving their problems
C] The Sales Department obtaining and processing orders from customers, and customer relationship management
D] The Operations Department building and delivering solutions, products, and services to fill customer orders
E] The Finance/Accounting Department collecting payment for the value delivered to customers by the products, services, and processes provided by the venture
The "numeric" communication channels in Figure 5 are internal, the information being shared between departments in a business venture.
1] Marketing and Innovation Development Departments share information about customer problems, needs, wants, and desires, and the benefits, fit, form, function, and features of new products, services, and processes being created in the organization.
2] The Marketing and Sales Departments coordinate information about the benefits, fit, form, function, and features of currently available solutions, products, services, and process that match customer requirements, including the price of the offerings.
3] The Sales Department communicates information about customer orders to the Finance/Accounting Department such that the customer is properly billed when the solutions, products, and services are delivered.
4] The Sales Department communicates information about customer orders to the Operations Department such that the appropriate products and services are delivered to the customer.
5] The Operations Department communicates information about product and service delivery to the customer so the Finance/Accounting Department can accurately bill the customer.
6] The Innovation Department (often called the Engineering Department) provides the Operations Department with bills of material and assembly instructions for creating the solutions, products, and services being sold to customers.
While there are many other useful tools, those outlined in this paper have proven to provide excellent results for a mentoring a new business venture development team.