Putting Progress in Context
The foundation context layer puts progress itself into context
Progress as a verb and a state transition
Progress is a verb, a continuous journey between two progress states. It can equally be seen as a discrete series of state transitions.
Progress as a State
Progress is a state, comprising three equally important dimensions: functional, experiential, and contextual.
Progress as a noun
It is useful to name several specific states. Several act as waypoints – progress origin, sought and offered – whereas there indicate judgements – progress reached and progress potential.
Progress Sought
The more desirable progress state that a Seeker wishes to reach. Upon reaching it, maximum improvement in well-being has emerged (often felt as maximum value). It may have elements inserted by one or more Externalities.
Progress Origin
The progress state for a) where a Seeker starts their progress attempt and b)where a Helper’s proposition assumes the start point is.
Progress Offered
The progress state a Helper offers to help a Seeker reach. A progress offered that is closer to a Seeker’s progress sought is one element of a Helper’s competitive advantage.
Progress Potential
The progress state that an actor – predominantly the Seeker – judges, at a particular moment in time, could be reached in a progress attempt.
Progress Reached
The progress state that an actor – predominantly the Seeker – judges, they have reached at a particular time during a progress attempt.
Understanding Progress
Anchor your thinking around Seekers’ progress and minimising progress hurdles, and you will outperform on innovation, sales, and growth, compared to those stuck on product features and focusing on value. What we’re thinking Progress – moving over time to a more desired state – is a new philosophy for understanding how the world works, solving the challenges our traditional value-first view gives us. Imagine a world where innovation lands, sales resonate, and growth accelerates – not because we focused on value, which is surprisingly hard to actionably define, but because we focus on what we are truly looking for: progress. Value, it…
