Progress as a noun

Progress as a noun
Dr. Adam Tacy PhD, MBA avatar
What we’re thinking

In the progress economy we find it beneficial to name some specific progress states.

These serve as waypoints that we can refer to and reason about on progress journeys (see progress as a verb).

Without further delay, let’s delve into the five commonly used named states!

Naming states

Here’s the five named progress states we’ll refer to often in the progress economy.

description
progress soughtrepresents the more desirable state that a progress seeker aims to reach
progress originthe starting point for the progress seeker in a progress attempt
progress offeredthe progress state that a progress helper offers to assist the progress seeker reach when they engage with a progress proposition
progress potentialphenomenological judgement, at a specific point in time, of the progress state that could be reached in a progress attempt
progress reachedphenomenological judgement, at a specific point in time, of the progress state that has been reached during a progress attempt
Used as progress attempt WAYPOINTS

We use these named states as waypoints on progress attempts as shown in this diagram.

With progress attempts starting from the seeker’s individual progress origin aiming to end at the seeker’s individual progress sought.

The five often used named states in the progress economy
The various named progress states used in the progress economy

However, when engaging a pogress proposition, the end point transitions to the proposition’s progress offered. This may differ from the progress sought, and the seeker needs to judge if that is acceptable and sufficient.

Progress origin
Progress origin named state - where a seeker starts their progress journeys/attempts.

This is the progress seeker‘s starting point for a progress attempt.

It moves over time as seekers gain resources from other progress attempts (including in other markets and industries).

Progress propositions also need to assume a progress origin. And helpers can segment progress origin to offer more relevant propositions.

Progress sought

This is the desired state a progress seeker wishes to reach. It’s the end point of progress where maximum value has been created.

It evolves over time due to experiences, influences (even from other markets and industries) and changing circumstances.

For practical reasons we usually consider specific aspects of progress sought at a time. And progress helpers often segment their offerings based on progress sought to offer more relevant propositions.

Progress sought named state - the desired state a seeker wishes to move over time to (progress)
Progress offered
Progress offered - the named state a helper offers to help reach when engaging their proposition

This is the progress state that a progress helper offers to assist the progress seeker reach when they engage with their progress proposition.

While it has a connection to progress sought, it need not match it exactly. Offering an exact match requires customisation which likely increases the equitable exchange progress hurdle. Helpers may offer compromised propositions that target different seeker segments to reduce that hurdle.

Some helpers look to deviate from mainstream segment. Disruptive innovation and blue ocean strategy are two approaches that follow this idea.

Two named states represent phenomenological judgements of progress: progress potential and progress reached.

Progress potential

The phenomenological judgement, at a specific point in time, of the progress state that could be reached in a progress attempt.

We can interpret this as judgement of future value that could be created and is judged prior to and during a progress attempt.

It is predominantly judged by seekers. Though in some cases helpers also judge potential with a seeker, deciding to not make resources available if it is judged as too low.

Progress potential is the named state representing a seeker’s phenomenological judgement of progress that could be made from a specific time point
Progress reached
Progress reached represents a seeker’s phenomenological judgement of progress made by a specific time point

The phenomenological judgement, at a specific point in time, of the progress state that has been reached during a progress attempt

It is judged during and after a progress attempt, predominantly by sekers. And it reflects the level of value that has emerged during the attempt. Though, importantly, this may differ from value actually recognised by the seeker.

Helpers may also make judgements, and they can differ to seekers – which is a likely sign of value co-destruction.

Relating to value

Naming of states generates no value to a seeker. But it does allow us to reason about what value has emerged and has been recognised:

relating to value
progress originNo value so far created; progress potential exists if seeker has judged that.
progress soughtMaximum value has been created when reaching this state.
progress offeredMaximum value has been created when reaching this state if it matches progress sought.

When differing from progress sought the eventual value created differs. It may be:
* less if progress offered is less than progress sought
* more if progress offered is more than progress sought and seeker realises value in the extra progress
* same if progress offered is more than progress sought and seeker recognises no extra value in the extra progress (be aware, the seeker may see higher progress hurdles due to this unnecessary extra progress)

We also use two named states to keep track of seekers’ phenomenological judgements of progress:

relating to value
progress potentialAn indication of future value that may be realised
progress reachedAn indication of value that has emerged; this may differ from value recognised depending on the seeker’s value recognition approach
Relating to innovation

Innovation should aim to increase seekers’ judgements of progress potential towards progress sought. Doing so means seekers may realise increasingly more value towards maximum value.

For helpers this means their propositions need to increase their progress offered towards progress sought. Helping seeker’s increase their judgements of progress potential and increase progress reached.

Helpers also need to innovate to manage the ever evolving progress sought and likely evolving progress origins.

I’ll leave you with one last quote before you dive into each named state, it cones as a consequence of what I’ve just written:

Innovate or die

P. Drucker via “Innovation on the fly”, HBR
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