Visual Paradigm Desktop | 
Visual Paradigm Online
Ever wondered what a business really does? Behind every product or service, there’s a simple, powerful pattern at play. Let’s break down the two essential types of actions that make any company—from your local bakery to a global tech giant—truly work.
Inbound Logistics
“Getting stuff in.”
Example: A restaurant receiving daily deliveries of fresh vegetables, meat, and dairy products.
Operations
“Making the product.”
Example: Chefs cooking meals, mixing drinks, and plating food in the kitchen.
Outbound Logistics
“Getting stuff out.”
Example: Waitstaff delivering the finished meals from the kitchen to the customer’s table.
Marketing & Sales
Telling people about it.”
Example: Running social media ads for a “Taco Tuesday” special to attract customers.
Service
“Helping after the sale.”
Example: Handling a customer complaint about a meal and offering a discount on their next visit.
Now for the powerful, behind-the-scenes actions. While customers might not see them directly, these activities are the essential foundation that enables the entire ‘main event’ to happen smoothly and efficiently. Without strong support, the primary activities would quickly grind to a halt.
Procurement
“Buying the things needed.”
Example: Negotiating contracts with a new, higher-quality coffee bean supplier.
Technology Development
“Using tools and tech.”
Example: Implementing a new online reservation system or a kitchen order ticketing system.
Human Resources
“Managing the people.”
Example: Hiring, training, and scheduling shifts for all chefs, waiters, and cleaning staff.
Firm Infrastructure
“Running the company.”
Example: Managing accounting, paying rent for the building, and ensuring legal compliance.
Great Teams Need Both Offense and Defense
Think of it like a championship sports team. Primary activities are the star players on the field, scoring points and making exciting plays (the offense). But they couldn’t win without the support activities: the coaches devising strategies, the medics keeping players healthy, and the front office managing contracts. One is visible glory, the other is the essential foundation for that glory. A business can’t win its market without both working together seamlessly.
Putting It All Together
The most important thing to remember is that support activities don’t just happen on the side—they underpin everything the business does. Good hiring (HR) affects every single primary step. Better technology makes the whole chain more efficient. Think of it like this:
