Here is a list of key business values, categorized
by type of value (i.e. physical, organizational, and psychological
values).
Physical
Values
Accuracy The precision, exactness, and conforming to fact in details of
work.
Cleanliness --of offices, production and warehouse facilities, equipment,
customer service areas, raw material and finished product inventory, closets, bathrooms,
and so on
Maximum Utilization of Resources The desire and ability of the company to improve its performance
by full utilization of its current resources (i.e. as
time, money, equipment, materials, space,
people, etc.).
Orderliness --in offices, drawers, file cabinets, shelves, paperwork, files,
phone numbers, priority of work, daily and weekly planning, etc.
Punctuality and Timeliness --in arriving on time to work, from breaks, from lunch, to
meetings, in replying to letters and phone calls, in paying bills on time, etc. Occurring
at the most suitable or opportune time.
Quality of Products and Services --in terms of presentation, functionality, choice, value, speed,
timeliness, suitability, repeatability, reliability, life span, repeatability, courtesy,
friendliness, etc.
Regularity --of meetings, reports, sales calls, performance reviews, and so
forth
Reliability The way system or persons
consistently produce the same results,
preferably meeting or exceeding its specifications.
Dependability.
Responsiveness The way people, the organization, systems, etc. react to a need
coming from within or without.
Safety --in offices, warehouses, production and research facilities,
vehicles, for employees, vendors, customers. etc.
Speed of Operations The measurement of whether actions occur in the fastest time.
Organizational
Values
Accountability --of individuals, departments and divisions for performance,
results, problems, and so on
Communications --up, down, and sideways within the company, with customers and
vendors, in terms of openness, frankness, clarity, frequency, accuracy, timeliness, and
brevity
Cooperation (Teamwork) --among individuals, departments, divisions, branches, and so on
Coordination --horizontally between departments in terms of plans, activities,
and systems
Discipline --in adherence to company policy, rules, systems, procedures,
schedules, standards, ethics, and so on
Freedom for Initiative
of Employees --to make suggestions, develop plans, make decisions, carry out
or modify actions, and so on
Integration --for smooth operation vertically between different levels of the
organization in terms of plans, decisions, and priorities
Standardization --in terms of forms, files, procedures, reports, performance
evaluations, equipment, training, recruitment, orientations, communications, and so on
Systemization --in sales, marketing, customer service, accounting, research,
production, engineering, estimating, recruitment, training, promotions, communications,
coordination, reporting, and so on
Psychological
Values
Continuous Improvement The desire and ability of the company to develop and incorporate
ways to improve itself.
Creativity --in terms of new products, new ideas, new systems, new
production methods, new applications of technology, new methods of financing, new
marketing strategies
Customer Delight The positive emotional response and joy that the customer feels
from interaction with our people and our products and services.
Decisiveness --in solving problems, planning, executing plans, in terms of
speed and commitment to decisions once made
Develop People The desire and ability of the company to improve the lot of
its employees, including,
ultimately, their personal growth.
(Click here to go to an article on perhaps
the highest business value, Commitment
to People.)
Harmony The overall atmosphere and interaction between people,
departments, divisions, systems, activities, rules, and policies within the company and
between these elements and the external environment, customers, vendors, community laws,
and so on.
Innovation The desire and ability of the company to venture into new,
breakthrough areas of opportunity. (e.g. in the industry,
in emerging trends in society, etc.)
Integrity Keeping to one's word, promises, agreements, being truthful,
non-deceitful etc. with employees, customers, vendors, government, etc.
Loyalty --to and from suppliers, customers, and employees
Resourcefulness
The ability to
deal resourcefully, i.e. creatively, imaginatively,
self-reliably with unusual problems,
difficult situations, or unanticipated opportunities.
Respect for the Individual --in establishing rules and policies, design of systems, making
decisions, executing instructions, and so on in terms of people's health, safety,
self-esteem, feelings, and opinions
Service to Society Community welfare, environmental protection, development of
products and services that meet real physical, social, or psychological needs.
