In my Innovation Team we work with clients on innovation and the influence on their current business model. We analyze the current business model using a framework based on the ideas of Alexander Osterwalder. We focus on the business model impact of the innovation portfolio of the client. In addition to the financial (Rational) performance of the business model we analyze the emotional side of the performance as well. We find out that two value performance indicators can be measured and managed on the emotional side of the business model: Reputation and Experience.
Reputation is the way stakeholders think of, speak about and act upon the image of your company. If you can create a company that people identify with, that is responsive to their sense of values, justice, fairness, ethics, compassion and appreciation, they will help you to be successful [Walter Haas, Jr., Chairman of Levi-Strauss].Reputation can be measured and managed. Good examples and cases can be tracked from the Reputation Institute. RI is the leading international organization devoted to advancing knowledge about corporate reputations and to providing professional assistance to companies interested in measuring and managing their reputations proactively.
Experience is a well known term in marketing for many years. In relation to innovation a new term is out: Experience Innovation. Clients and customers choose products and services more and more for emotional reasons. The get a first idea of what Experience means look at Wikepedia: Value can be placed on a continuum from undifferentiated (referred to as commodities) to highly differentiated. A possible classification for each stage in the evolution of value is:
- If you charge for undifferentiated stuff, then you are in the commodity business.
- If you charge for distinctive tangible things, then you are in the goods business.
- If you charge for the activities you perform, then you are in the service business.
- If you charge for the feeling customers have because of engaging you, then you are in the experience business.
- If you charge for the benefit customers (or "guests") receive as a result of spending that time, you are in the transformation business.
Experience can also be measured and managed. In 2005 Thomas Thijssen, director of research of the European Centre for the Experience Economy developed, together with Ed Peelen (Nyenrode Business School) and Susan Bink (University of Amsterdam), a new tool to measure the impact of meaningful experiences.
To become successful in business model innovation is is vital to include the two additional building blocks in the business model framework: REPUTATION and EXPERIENCE.
