Key Activities are those a company must engage in to make its business model work. Every business model requires Key Activities, and they naturally differ depending on the business model type.
For Microsoft, the Key Activities include software development and marketing. Dell depends on supply chain management. A consultancy company will concentrate on problem solving.
Key Activities can be important in any business building block, but are especially prominent in the following:
Production
Production activity dominates the business models of manufacturing firms, be they related to design, manufacture, delivery or quality control.
Problem solving
Consultancies, hospitals, and other service organizations typically focus on problem-solving activities, requiring in turn knowledge management and continual staff training.
Platform/network
Creating or maintaining platforms can be a key activity. Visa's business model requires a common platform between banks, merchants and customers. Microsoft must supply a reliable operating system to support third-party software products. eBay's platform is its auction site and software. Platforms have to be maintained, extended and promoted.