Many people are interested in how a new Value Proposition is created. Of course, understanding this process and being able to execute it, provides a basis for continuously staying ahead of competitors; it would be the Holy Grail of business. In workshops I have used various methods such as Blue Ocean and TRIZ. These methods help to frame thoughts and give directions. What they do not do is provide you with a new Value Proposition gift wrapped.
Creating a new Value Proposition can be done in several ways, each of which differently partitioned into stages. Here is an example of how the creation process is broken down, brought in a very creative way; in an animated Chinese painting style. The movie clip is by Ada Kwok and is presently really popular on youtube. Clicking tot Ada’s website it is clear that the company does graphic business design. Ada has used succesfully as a mechanism to draw traffic to her site. This is yet an other example of how youtube can significantly boost the number of potential customers.
I really like how each of the creation phases is broken down and expresses in the video:
- Imagination
- Visualization
- Formation
- Transformation
- Bring to life
Googling the internet “Blue Ocean” was already quite popular (12,900,000 hits). “Business Model Innovation” is a risen star here (6,800,000 hits). Combining the two only generates 75,400 hits. A bit strange… Not only do the two serve the same purpose, deliver growth and innovation to a company. The first can serve as a means of achieving the second.
Nowadays it is not just about mastering one approach; it is about mastering the ability to combine multiple and deliver growth. Perhaps a bit late, but why not… 2008 will bring more mixed models. Let me be the first to kick it off with a combination of the Blue Ocean Strategy as a methodology to come to Business Model Innovation.
Recently, perhaps in a reaction to the iPhone, buzz started to spread that Google was also working on a mobile phone. Many different blogs showed pictures that were leaked to the press. Of course Google’s Business Model is all about generating traffic, and more important offering adds to this traffic. The PC Internet market is pretty covered… and where to find a new source for traffic… the mobile phone!
Let’s start with a small rectification on the buzz: the is not going to be a Google Phone, but a Google Mobile Phone Operating System called Android.
Since a couple of years the so-called smart phone is becoming increasingly popular. HTC has set the standard with their Windows Mobile operated phones. Companies like Nokia are also trying to get a piece of the pie with their Symbian operating system based phone, such as the E-series from Nokia.
So the market is quite mature so why would we consumers go for this latest gadget by Google?
First it will probably be the must have gadget for 2008 (launching Google Android enabled phones in Europe probably mid 2008). Second, the thing Google is great at, and what we users like, is that the company is able to integrate the whole lot into a new experience. And the best thing is that with running Google Android as an operating system on your mobile, when you need an additional tool, this tool will available free of charge. Google Android is open source. The software development kit is free of charge. And at the moment you read this someone somewhere is already building the killer app you want on your mobile. Google has reserved 10 million dollars, in chunks varying in amount from 25,000 till 275,000 for people that develop applications that are picked up by their panels of experts. Doing so will stimulate to formation of a community, and boost innovation.
Before each rugby match the New Zealand team performs a traditional Maori dance: the Haka. Of course this underlines their identity. The dance basically fits two main purposes; first build up the tension for the team, and second intimidate the other team. I think it is a great, inspiring example of how a team breaths as one, one critical factors in executing any strategy, and a Blue Ocean Strategy in particular. Creating one clear picture helps so that both customers as well as employees do not get lost in the woods.
In a Blue Ocean strategy the execution has to be build into the strategy itself. The Haka, seen as an expression of the team’s strategy, is an example of how the execution of their strategy of build into it by the New Zealand rugby team.
It is that impressive that Adidas used it in their commercials around the Rugby World Cup recently held in France.
