I have a very simple rule of thumb for evaluating the value of products and services: Agency, Resource, Status, and Experience. It reminds me that in everything I buy commercially, I’m paying for ARSE:
convenience (better Experience, and I keep more of my time Resource, but I trade away more of my money Resource)
customizability (more Agency with Burger King’s “Have It Your Way!”)
reputation in the marketplace by brand name and commercials, or with public or private quality checkers such as “Certified USDA Prime Beef!” “Underwriters Labs” “Consumer Reports Top Pick” (high Status), or buying store brands (lower Status and implied lower quality Resources, but I keep more of my money Resource)
higher quality or more versatile products (more useful Resource)
Aside from the pithy mnemonic, it’s also helped me categorize when thinking of ways to improve the offerings of businesses or hobby groups I’m involved with, such as my local Toastmasters club. I haven’t yet found a fifth category of value that I’d consider as primary as these, but I haven’t looked much.
I found that often certifiers lack teeth and are more of a PR exercise that genuine quality control. Sometimes they are the real thing, sometimes not.
A recent example would be various forms of “organic” certification which are highly variable in validity. You need to look at each case. One question to ask is how many people were denied certification or had certification withdrawn in the last 12 months? How many lawyers were actually struck off by the bar association and what did they have to do to get struck off?
Which, indeed, is why I categorized “certification” as Status or marketing: the product gains standing in the eyes of whoever believes the certification has merit, but gains negative status with whoever distrusts the certifier.
I have a very simple rule of thumb for evaluating the value of products and services: Agency, Resource, Status, and Experience. It reminds me that in everything I buy commercially, I’m paying for ARSE:
convenience (better Experience, and I keep more of my time Resource, but I trade away more of my money Resource)
customizability (more Agency with Burger King’s “Have It Your Way!”)
reputation in the marketplace by brand name and commercials, or with public or private quality checkers such as “Certified USDA Prime Beef!” “Underwriters Labs” “Consumer Reports Top Pick” (high Status), or buying store brands (lower Status and implied lower quality Resources, but I keep more of my money Resource)
higher quality or more versatile products (more useful Resource)
Aside from the pithy mnemonic, it’s also helped me categorize when thinking of ways to improve the offerings of businesses or hobby groups I’m involved with, such as my local Toastmasters club. I haven’t yet found a fifth category of value that I’d consider as primary as these, but I haven’t looked much.
I found that often certifiers lack teeth and are more of a PR exercise that genuine quality control. Sometimes they are the real thing, sometimes not.
A recent example would be various forms of “organic” certification which are highly variable in validity. You need to look at each case. One question to ask is how many people were denied certification or had certification withdrawn in the last 12 months? How many lawyers were actually struck off by the bar association and what did they have to do to get struck off?
Which, indeed, is why I categorized “certification” as Status or marketing: the product gains standing in the eyes of whoever believes the certification has merit, but gains negative status with whoever distrusts the certifier.