Strategic axis define the sources of value to a business, and how the businesses could reposition themselves in changing environment. Strategic axes not only define what an organisation does, but the extent to which it does it.
Examples of strategic axis could include Product portfolio, geographical extent, passenger proposition etc.
Organisation’s business model is also essentially defined by its sources of value or strategic axes. One important thing about strategic axis is it should be measurable, only then one can aim to change it going forward. It is a wonderful tool which provides current status and future targeted status in the same graph and provides a basis of discussion between the management.
More on this in the book:
Beyond Default: Setting Your Organization on a Trajectory to an Improved Future