vation at the same time. Professionalism is often combined with quality and quality and innovation are often enemies; just think about the first version of a new product.. there is hardly any quality because there is no benchmark to compare it with.

If on the other hand innovative would have been selected as a value instead of professionalism, a financial company would have much more problems, because it does fit the tradition of conservation and security. So this company combined some values and you can read between the lines.

The same counts for “entrepre

The way in which corporate values are described tells a lot about a company. And therefore they offer some valuable information to guide the organization. A simple set of four to five values describe much of the priorities and preferences in the organization. The first value is the most important. Here is an (another) example:

Integrity.
Integrity is a value that is often found at financials. Integrity is like a duty that you owe because people trust in you. A company that sells shoes, alter-shave or beverages does not necessary or predominantly have to excel in integrity. Once you have bought and received your shoes as a client you do no longer bother what happens to the company who sold them. This is different from a situation when you leave your money at a bank.

Teamwork. Why is teamwork important? And when?
This: “… is the essence of our ability to succeed as a trusted partner,” shows a belief and this: “…we learn from each other and share our skills and resources across organizational boundaries.” Is why teamwork is important. For example to learn from each other. It also important for a financial service provider. If you offer a service and you are depending on a few people with certain knowledge to help you your organization will become inflexible…

Respect.
“…We respect every individual. We … value… equal opportunity and diversity, at the same time supporting personal growth and development …and we value … entrepreneurial spirit of each individual.”

This value is also important. By introducing this value the company institutionalizes the internal police officer or referee -- which is a productive role. This value combines well with “teamwork.” You could read the above sentence also like: “…diversity creates opportunities within the team.”

Professionalism. “…We are committed to the highest standards of professionalism.” This is also clear. So far the four values show some simple guidelines for organizing activities. Sometimes the values carry additional information. This could give the whole statement more depth, but it also weakens them somehow. In the professionalism value we also read: “… we pursue innovation… we deploy imagination…” When you think about professionalism you do not quite think about innovation at the same time. Professionalism is often combined with quality and quality and innovation are often enemies; just think about the first version of a new product.. there is hardly any quality because there is no benchmark to compare it with.

If on the other hand innovative would have been selected as a value instead of professionalism, a financial company would have much more problems, because it does fit the tradition of conservation and security. So this company combined some values and you can read between the lines.

The same counts for “entrepren

l in integrity. Once you have bought and received your shoes as a client you do no longer bother what happens to the company who sold them. This is different from a situation when you leave your money at a bank.

Teamwork. Why is teamwork important? And when?
This: “… is the essence of our ability to succeed as a trusted partner,” shows a belief and this: “…we learn from each other and share our skills and resources across organizational boundaries.” Is why teamwork is important. For example to learn from each other. It also important for a financial service provider. If you offer a service and you are depending on a few people with certain knowledge to help you your organization will become inflexible…

Respect.
“…We respect every individual. We … value… equal opportunity and diversity, at the same time supporting personal growth and development …and we value … entrepreneurial spirit of each individual.”

This value is also important. By introducing this value the company institutionalizes the internal police officer or referee -- which is a productive role. This value combines well with “teamwork.” You could read the above sentence also like: “…diversity creates opportunities within the team.”

Professionalism. “…We are committed to the highest standards of professionalism.” This is also clear. So far the four values show some simple guidelines for organizing activities. Sometimes the values carry additional information. This could give the whole statement more depth, but it also weakens them somehow. In the professionalism value we also read: “… we pursue innovation… we deploy imagination…” When you think about professionalism you do not quite think about innovation at the same time. Professionalism is often combined with quality and quality and innovation are often enemies; just think about the first version of a new product.. there is hardly any quality because there is no benchmark to compare it with.

If on the other hand innovative would have been selected as a value instead of professionalism, a financial company would have much more problems, because it does fit the tradition of conservation and security. So this company combined some values and you can read between the lines.

The same counts for “entrepre

provider. If you offer a service and you are depending on a few people with certain knowledge to help you your organization will become inflexible…

Respect.
“…We respect every individual. We … value… equal opportunity and diversity, at the same time supporting personal growth and development …and we value … entrepreneurial spirit of each individual.”

This value is also important. By introducing this value the company institutionalizes the internal police officer or referee -- which is a productive role. This value combines well with “teamwork.” You could read the above sentence also like: “…diversity creates opportunities within the team.”

Professionalism. “…We are committed to the highest standards of professionalism.” This is also clear. So far the four values show some simple guidelines for organizing activities. Sometimes the values carry additional information. This could give the whole statement more depth, but it also weakens them somehow. In the professionalism value we also read: “… we pursue innovation… we deploy imagination…” When you think about professionalism you do not quite think about innovation at the same time. Professionalism is often combined with quality and quality and innovation are often enemies; just think about the first version of a new product.. there is hardly any quality because there is no benchmark to compare it with.

If on the other hand innovative would have been selected as a value instead of professionalism, a financial company would have much more problems, because it does fit the tradition of conservation and security. So this company combined some values and you can read between the lines.

The same counts for “entrepre

ld read the above sentence also like: “…diversity creates opportunities within the team.”

Professionalism. “…We are committed to the highest standards of professionalism.” This is also clear. So far the four values show some simple guidelines for organizing activities. Sometimes the values carry additional information. This could give the whole statement more depth, but it also weakens them somehow. In the professionalism value we also read: “… we pursue innovation… we deploy imagination…” When you think about professionalism you do not quite think about innovation at the same time. Professionalism is often combined with quality and quality and innovation are often enemies; just think about the first version of a new product.. there is hardly any quality because there is no benchmark to compare it with.

If on the other hand innovative would have been selected as a value instead of professionalism, a financial company would have much more problems, because it does fit the tradition of conservation and security. So this company combined some values and you can read between the lines.

The same counts for “entrepre

vation at the same time. Professionalism is often combined with quality and quality and innovation are often enemies; just think about the first version of a new product.. there is hardly any quality because there is no benchmark to compare it with.

If on the other hand innovative would have been selected as a value instead of professionalism, a financial company would have much more problems, because it does fit the tradition of conservation and security. So this company combined some values and you can read between the lines.

The same counts for “entrepreneurial” that is added to “respect.” Read this as…”although this employee does not quite fit in the team, he or she is valued for its entrepreneurial luggage.

© 2007 Hans Bool