As value chain analysis matures as a development approach, it is increasingly important to improve its effectiveness through enhancing and building on its most successful components. This paper looks at two specialized tools to increase the rigor of two phases of the value chain approach: end market analysis and business environment analysis and reform. These in-depth tools assist practitioners and stakeholders in assessing and prioritizing upgrading needs and can be implemented alongside or independently of standard value chain analysis. This paper describes the tools and presents examples of how they have been implemented.