On 1st February, I was fortunate to attend an insightful and interactive event focused on the concept of Value and how Values inform corporate decision-making. This was hosted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants for England and Wales, in association with Pretoria University, PwC, Old Mutual Group and the UK Values Alliance.
In addition to thought-provoking presentations on integrated reporting and assessing Value in organisations, case studies were explored, particularly Unilever’s 2020 Sustainable Living Plan. Old Mutual’s cultural transformation using the Barrett Values Methodology was another “live example”. Well done to Liz Murphy on her dynamic exposition of OMG’s Values Journey – and flying the UK Values Alliance flag too!
I was similarly impressed by the roundtable debates, benefitting from the diverse experience of the attendees. The key takeaway was the challenge in defining Value in a holistic context and measuring it objectively. Most Values Alliance members are familiar with some ambiguity; recall animated conversations at quarterly meetings on different approaches to Values, definitions and quantifying impact!
In conclusion, the discussions raised more questions in some ways than answers. I believe this is a heathy indicator – asking the right questions is crucial and is in itself a “blueprint” for progress. I enjoyed the evening and hope to see more of these types of events in the future.
– By Vishal Handa, UK Values Alliance Member and founder-director of SBI Coaching