The use of value network analysis is growing and it makes a lot of sense. I heard Verna Allee discuss the topic at the last KM Cluster in Cleveland. It is defined by the wikipedia as:
“Value networks (value webs), are the human and technical resources that work together to form relationships and add value to a product or service. Included in a company’s value network are research, development, design, production, marketing, sales, and distribution. These components work interchangeably to add to the overall worth of a product or service. Value is created from the relationship between the company, its customers, intermediaries, complementors and suppliers…”
There is a lot more in the wikipedia article and even more at the Open Value Networks Resource, a site for people who are helping to bring forward the best work around value networks. People can submit articles, case studies and links for inclusion. It is an excellent resource and offers documents, presentations, downloadable open applications and other tools, videos and more - about value network analysis and complementary approaches.
I heard from Verna that the interest in this topic in healthcare, aerospace and defense, economic development agencies and technology companies is growing. This growth is, in part, fueled by the fact that it has been picked up by the Lean and Six Sigma people as a "next generation" tool that reveals systemic "big breakthroughs" before moving to process work.
It reminds me of some of the analysis of value flows and kowledge flows that we did on the Cigna P&C knowledge management work that was very useful at the time. There we were also looking to align knowledge applications to key business goals and processes. Check out the Open Value Networks if you are doing strategc planning.
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