What XPLANE does

XPLANE is a TiER1 Performance brand founded in 1993 that develops and sells organizational change management and business transformation resources, primarily to enterprise leaders, L&D professionals, and individual learners. Its core technology and IP consist of proprietary visual thinking methodologies and frameworks, including the trademarked 'The Visual Thinking Company' identity, the Plan-Do-Sustain framework, the Strategy Activation methodology, the Double-Sided Pencil facilitation model, and the Change Guides Plan-Do-Sustain methodology. The productized portfolio spans physical card decks (e.g., Barriers to Change, Discovery, Building Blocks, Method Cards), digital toolkits and eBooks (DNA of Change eKit, Change Management Toolkit), live cohort courses and certifications (Change Management Certification, Strategy Activation, Storytelling for Change, Managing Change in Agile World), team-based Crash Courses, customized Facilitated Sprints, and free worksheets used as top-of-funnel lead magnets.

The business operates a hybrid go-to-market combining self-serve e-commerce (xplane.com/shop) for low-ticket individual products with scheduled cohort course enrollment and direct enterprise sales for higher-value certifications, team learning, and facilitated workshops. Pricing is per-unit with one-time purchases for products (roughly $17-$37) and tiered course pricing ($695-$3,000), plus custom-priced Facilitated Sprints typically delivered as multi-day engagements. Distribution is anchored by TiER1 Performance's enterprise relationships and a content marketing engine spanning the X-Blog, webinars, a bimonthly XPRESS newsletter, and 80+ free downloadable worksheets. XPLANE was acquired by TiER1 Performance in 2022 and integrated Change Guides in 2024; in 2025 it formally shifted from consulting services to a productized learning tools and training experiences model.

Name

XPLANE

Legal name

TiER1 Performance

Website

https://xplane.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

XPLANE, a TiER1 Performance brand, develops proprietary visual thinking and change management tools, courses, and certifications for enterprise leaders, L&D professionals, and transformation teams worldwide, distributed via e-commerce, cohort courses, and direct enterprise sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Organizational Change Management Consulting

NAICS

Software Publishers (51321), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (5415)

akta.pro primary industry

Certification & Credentialed Creator Programs (MPACALAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Skills, Competency & Capability Management (Skills Frameworks, Badging within LMS) (EDAFAAAE)

Keywords

• Organizational change management
• Business transformation consulting
• Strategy activation training
• Visual thinking facilitation
• Change management certification

Headquarters

HQ city

Madrid

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Physical Products (Cards, Books): Sale of physical card decks (Barriers to Change, Discovery, Building Blocks, Method Cards) ranging from $26.99 to $36.99, and books ($16.99-$26.99). One-time purchase model.
2. Digital Products (eBooks, eKits): Sale of downloadable digital products including the DNA of Change eKit ($36.99) and various ebooks ($16.99). One-time download purchase with lifetime access.
3. Toolkits and Templates: Sale of comprehensive toolkits including Change Management Toolkit ($36.99), Agile World Toolkit ($36.99), and Best Practices PowerPoint ($36.99). One-time license per user.
4. Courses and Certifications: Cohort-based courses including Storytelling for Change ($695), Strategy Activation Course ($995), Change Management Certification ($2,495-$3,000), and Managing Change in Agile World ($995-$1,600). Live virtual instructor-led training with materials.
5. Crash Courses (Team Learning): Team-based learning experiences at $2,000 per session, covering 90-120 minutes with up to 20 team members. Virtual live instruction with downloadable frameworks.
6. Facilitated Sprints: Engaging time-boxed workshops (half-day, full-day, or multi-day) facilitated by expert facilitators to help teams align, design, and jumpstart transformation efforts. Customized to organizational goals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

XPLANE sells tools, products, and learning experiences for organizational change management and business transformation. Its portfolio includes physical and digital card decks (Barriers to Change, Discovery, Building Blocks, Method), books and eBooks (DNA of Change, Strategy Activation Playbook, Eight Constants of Change), digital toolkits, professional courses and certifications, team-based crash courses, and expert-facilitated sprints, all grounded in visual thinking and human-centered design.

Product overview

XPLANE is a TiER1 Performance brand that offers a comprehensive portfolio of organizational change management and business transformation resources. The offering consists of four main collections (Transformation, Change Enablement, Thriving Organizations, and Collaboration), physical and digital card decks (Barriers to Change, Discovery, Building Blocks, Method, Bridge the Gap, PXD Brainstorming), books and eBooks (Strategy Activation Playbook, DNA of Change, Eight Constants of Change, Change Management Pocket Guide, Impact with Love, and others), digital toolkits (DNA of Change eKit, Change Management Toolkit, Agile World Toolkit), courses and certifications (Storytelling for Change, Change Management Certification, Managing Change in Agile World, Strategy Activation, Facilitation for Change), team learning experiences (Crash Courses, Facilitated Sprints), and free worksheets/tools (80+ templates). The portfolio also includes the acquired Change Guides brand for change management certification. All products support organizational transformation through visual thinking, strategy activation, and human-centered approaches to change.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Change Guides: Change management methodology and certification program co-founded by Stacy Aaron and Kate Nelson in 2005, offering tools, workshops, and consulting services for organizational change. Now part of the XPLANE portfolio.

Products and services

• Barriers to Change Cards 46-card physical deck exploring reasons people resist change across six categories plus wildcards, designed to help teams identify and overcome resistance to organizational change.
• Discovery Cards 51-card physical deck across four categories (Growth, Crisis, Action, Change) with 12 wildcards for game-based discovery of organizational culture and perspectives.
• Building Blocks Cards 84-card physical deck in three categories (Hear It, Believe It, Live It) designed to help organizations create customized activation plans for strategy adoption.
• Method Cards 42-card toolkit with facilitation methods aligned to the Open, Explore, Close phases of the Double-Sided Pencil framework for planning impactful workshops.
• Bridge the Gap: An Intergenerational Conversation Deck Digital card deck with 18 cards in four categories (Ice breaker, Learn, Connect, Take Action) to prompt thoughtful conversations about generational differences in the workplace.
• PXD Brainstorming Card Deck 52-prompt card deck designed for Performance Experience Design (PXD) brainstorming sessions to inspire mindsets for building employee experience.
• Strategy Activation Playbook Comprehensive guide empowering individuals and driving alignment throughout organizations to bring strategies to life, supporting the Strategy Activation methodology.
• Strategy Activation Kit Facilitator's companion to the Strategy Activation Playbook containing guides, worksheets, card decks, and tools for developing strategy activation plans.
• DNA of Change eKit Comprehensive digital kit for organizational transformation featuring an eBook, 20 walkthrough videos, 18 fillable PDFs, digital whiteboards, dashboards, and a facilitation guide.
• DNA of Change eBook eBook exploring eight design principles for organizational transformation and the traits supporting healthy, robust approaches to change.
• Visual Process Innovation eBook Guide to visual process approach helping organizations access the power of people-oriented processes.
• Facilitating Collaborative Change eBook eBook containing recipes for change leaders including 15 core facilitation methods for transforming organizations.
• Cultivate Belonging eBook Hands-on guide designed to spark connection, build trust, and strengthen the human fabric of the workplace with 16 fillable worksheets.
• Impact with Love Book Book sharing insights and frameworks from TiER1 CEO Greg Harmeyer on creating organizations that make a difference in people's lives through love and trust in the workplace.
• The Eight Constants of Change Book Practical, easy-to-use guide providing a framework for working through organizational change to produce immediate, tangible results.
• The Change Management Pocket Guide Practical guide with 31 highly effective change management tools for driving meaningful change from initial planning to embedding lasting transformation.
• Managing Change in an Agile World Book Guide covering principles and practices for managing change in agile, fast-paced, iterative environments with tools and templates.
• Visual Thinking Works Book Book introducing visual thinking methods in a simple and effective way through rigorous data and practical exercises, written in Spanish.
• The Change Management Toolkit Complete collection of tools and templates for implementing change management strategies, processes, and techniques including stakeholder analysis, communication plans, and training assessments.
• Best Practices in Leading and Managing Change PowerPoint 90-minute licensed PowerPoint presentation with proven strategies, facilitator notes, and actionable insights for addressing resistance, engaging stakeholders, and driving transformation.
• Managing Change in an Agile World Toolkit Comprehensive set of tools and templates specifically designed for agile environments including maturity models, readiness checklists, and action plans.
• Storytelling for Change Course Live virtual 3-day course teaching participants to tell cohesive and compelling stories that resonate with audiences, build understanding, and get buy-in for transformation.
• Change Management Certification In-depth certification program with 31 field-tested tools, strategies, and a step-by-step structure aligned to ACMP Standard for Change Management, offering 24 units for CCMP or SHRM recertification.
• Managing Change in an Agile World Course Course teaching agile change management principles for driving adoption and lasting impact in fast-moving environments.
• Design Your Facilitation Strategy Course Course helping participants confidently build workshop strategies by moving from disliking agenda planning to confidently constructing facilitation plans.
• Strategy Activation Course Three-day guided course for moving change initiatives from idea to action, learning a powerful process for moving people from alignment to adoption.
• Crash Courses 90-120 minute condensed learning experiences for teams of up to 20 members covering topics including Barriers to Change, Discovery, Storytelling, Visual Thinking, Agile Change, and Creative Leadership.
• Facilitated Sprints Engaging, time-boxed workshops (half-day, full-day, or multi-day) facilitated by expert facilitators to help teams align, design, and jumpstart meaningful transformation efforts including Quick Align, Priority Intensive, Team Catalyst, and Strategic Articulation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Organizations spend $160 billion annually on strategy development, yet 80% fail; XPLANE's approach helps organizations succeed in the 20% that succeed
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• TiER1 PerformancecoreOthersXPLANE is a TiER1 Performance brand and embedded group within TiER1. XPLANE works with subject matter experts to develop tools and learning experiences that empower leaders to build high-performing, human-centered organizations. In 2022, XPLANE combined all experience in human-centered design, visual thinking, and strategy activation with TiER1 to focus and scale efforts to accelerate positive change through people inside organizations.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat3 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/xplane
• Facebookfacebook.com/316812360693
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/xplane

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about XPLANE