The Progress Economy

fixing innovation, sales, and firing up growth


Category: Foundation Layer

This is one of four layers in the progress economy and captures those aspects that are at the foundation level. That is, the aspects on which the progress economy is built.

Here you’ll find the principles the progress economy is built upon.

  • progress, including sub pages for
    • progress as a verb / state transition
    • progress as a state
    • progress as a noun
  • value, and why we need to think progress-first, including pages for
    • value-in-exchange – our traditional view, previously successful but with challenging blind-spots
    • value-in-use – the main alternative to the above, solving the blind-spots, but struggles to be actionable
    • value-through-progress – our actionable model, built on top of value-in-use
  • resources, progress is made, and value emerges, from resource integrations. Resources are carriers of capabilities and come in two forms
    • operant
    • operand

There are also articles covering other foundational definitions and ideas:

  • What is service?
  • What is service exchange?
  • What does phenomenological – a word we’ll use a lot – mean?
  • What is service-dominant logic (from which we build the progress economy)
  • What is the innovation problem?

You can find more about the four-layer functional operating system here.

Articles in this category
  • Operand Resources

    What we’re thinking If you’re still competing on operand resources (eg product) alone, without a clear progress sought reason to do so, you’re playing yesterday’s game. For tomorrow’s growth, ask: how are we enabling progress through our operant resources? Operand resources, compared to operant ones, are passive – they must be acted upon for progress […]

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  • Operant Resources

    Writing / editing below here What we’re thinking Understanding and designing your business around operant resources, is key to unlocking progress, innovation, and sustainable growth. Not all resources are created equal. Those that act on other resources to make progress are known as operant resources. These are you, as a Seeker, and the employees of Helpers; both […]

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  • The Innovation Problem

    This content will be a rewrite of this article: https://solvinnov.com/innovation-problem/ Writing / Editing below here What we’re thinking According to McKinsey, 94% of executives are not happy with innovation initiatives – through identifying ways to deliver what progress seekers truly want: better progress. Here’s why, and why it’s a problem… today Back in 2013, Edison, bin […]

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  • Value-through-progress

    The progress economy reframes value creation by focusing on progress rather than static value. Progress is seen as a dynamic movement towards a more desirable state, with value emerging as this progress is made. This approach encourages systematic innovation by addressing progress hurdles and recognizing the complexities and multifaceted nature of value creation.

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  • Value-in-use

    The value-in-use model emphasizes incremental value creation through the active use of value propositions, solving blind spots present in the traditional value-in-exchange model. It focuses on service as the key driver of value, promoting adaptability and well-being without the goods versus services debate. Progress relies on beneficiary judgment, dialogue, and resource integration, encouraging continuous value co-creation and innovation.

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  • Value-in-Exchange

    The traditional value-in-exchange model has been wildly successful. But its narrow focus on a point of exchange and difficulties in defining what value actually is now hinders growth. Sadly, this model encourages incremental over radical innovation, and has blind spots, missing out on opportunities before and after exchanges, and hinders the shift to a circular economy.

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  • Service Exchange

    What we’re thinking We live in a world built on service exchange – on helping others make progress. Yet we often rely on a useful shortcut: the illusion of exchanging value (such as cash for products). Rediscovering the true nature of exchange isn’t just clarifying, it’s essential for innovation. This is one of the trickier […]

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  • Phenomenological

    WHAT WE’RE THINKING Phenomeno-what? I’m with you, what a mouthful! Yet we’ll use it a lot in The Progress Economy, so let’s try and get some intuition about it. Think of it as the baggage you bring to a decision – all your lived experiences together with what you’re experiencing at that moment (your living […]

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  • Resources – carriers of capabilities

    What we’re thinking For leaders solving innovation, sales, or growth problems, stop asking “What product should we build?” and start asking “What capabilities do our customers lack (or could be improved) that hinders them making progress, and how can we package those into the resource types they are looking for?” Progress doesn’t just happen. It is […]

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  • Progress as a verb and a state transition

    Editing below here What we’re thinking In the progress economy we believe seekers are trying to make progress – from their current progress origin to a more desirable state (progress sought) – with everything in their life. Progress can therefore be seen equally as: As such, it is both a super-charged description of a job […]

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