The Living Systems "Molecule"

Dear all - as we have discussed the starting point for our living systems "expedition" is the concept of value networks analysis which has three basic compenents (a) a role describing a behavior, (b) tangible deliverables shared from one role to another, and (c) intangible deliverables shared from one role to another. Two roles connected by at least one deliverable being shared are a "molecule" - the smallest building block whereby the iving systems view becomes relevant the moment molecules begin connecting. 

The best learning happens when molecules are built during a conversation, however it can help to introduce catalogs of roles and deliverables once the basic approach has been learned in experimental manner. The following default roles and deliverables were distilled as being relatively generic from several hundered vaue networks created since 2002 and represent a good starting point for in-depth discussion. Important to remember is that a "good" value network has no more than about 6 roles and 40 deliverables - these limits are cognitive boundaries for the "spaghetti" of a network map - more cannot really be appreciated by a general practitioner and needs to then be evaluated from a more statistical perspective.

• Generic Roles: Administrator, Advisor, Buyer, Client, Collaborator, Competitor, Comptroller, Consultant, Contractor, Coordinator, Designer, Developer, Evaluator, Influencer, Innovator, Investigator, Leader, Marketer, Mentor, Partner, Problem Solver, Producer, Regulator, Researcher, Seller, Service Provider, Subject Matter Expert, Trouble Shooter.

• Generic Tangible Deliverables: Analysis, Advice, Billing, Budget, Certification, Claim, Confirmation, Contract, Demand, Diagnosis, Documentation, Events (Knowledge Sharing), Events (Marketing), Goods, Inspection, Inventory Levels, Investment, Leads, Market Developments, Opportunity, Orders, Participation, Payment, Planning, Problem, Process Specifications, Product, Product Candidates, Production Data, Project Plan, Proposal , Repeat Business, Report(s), Request, Request For Information, Request For Proposal, Requirements, Research, Resources, Services, Sponsor, Time, Treatment.

• Generic Intangible Deliverables: Alternatives, Commitment, Credibility, Endorsement, Experience, Expertise, Favors, Feedback, Idea, Image, Influence, Informal Contact, Inquiry, Insights, Leads, Market Leadership, Need, Possibilities, Presence (Market), Prestige, Quality, Question, Recommendation, Referrals, Requirements, Research (Free), Responsiveness, Support (Political), Support (Project), Talent.

Three simple mapping rules are (a) sequence all exchanges - multiple exchanges can happen at the same time, (b) tangible exchanges should be "inside" intangible exchanges to highlight that the latter make the former possible, and (c) focus on the most important deliverables.

The image of the simple molecule was generated using the workbook tab "Simple Visual" available via https://sourceforge.net/projects/entov-hvm/files/Value%20Networks%20Archive/.

The power of living systems perspectives then becomes truly relevant when we look at the dynamics of hundreds of roles and thousands of exchanges - taking a systemic view of the organism that is thus demonstrated. The "molecule" is what you see under the microscope and yes, inside the roles there is another whole living system awaiting exploration! There are many attributes that can be explored in a series of analysis steps which we will examine iteratively moving forward.

If you are interested in learning more please visit us at www.innovation-web.eu, our LinkedIn Group at https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8779542/, our blog at https://www.innovation-web.eu/entov-hvm-blog, our Researchgate project page at https://www.researchgate.net/project/Open-European-Network-for-Enterprise-Innovation-in-High-Value-Manufacturing-ENTOV-HVM and our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2014779865300180/. You can also follow us via Twitter: @owschwabe (#innovationweb) and the LinkedIn Group page https://www.linkedin.com/company/entov.