TRIZ to Support Creation of Innovative Shared Value Business Initiatives

Abstract

Shared value companies and business initiatives focus on creation economic value by creating social value. Solving major social problems in a profitable way is a challenge, as long as shared value businesses envisage both societal progress and faster and more sustainable growth. The topic is very new in the literature and there is a lack of methodological constructs for approaching creation of shared value business initiatives in a structured way. The purpose of this article is to employ a TRIZ-driven framework for defining innovative shared value business initiatives. The methodology investigates the contradictions in the shared value concept and reveals generic areas of intervention. Vectors for disrupting status-quo are used to explore the areas of intervention for business idea formulation. Results are analyzed from various perspectives (positive, negative, objective, etc.) to feed business idea with content. The process ends with reconsideration of TRIZ to tackle those issues that still require conflict solving. Two examples from IT industry reveal the potential of the methodology to support the formulation of reliable shared value business initiatives.