In these tough times (yawn), news of all kinds of weird and wonderful business models is landing in my inbox on a daily basis. But today’s was something else: pay-what-you-think-it’s-worth.
Melbourne-based business improvement and productive thinking consultancy The Thinking Network, has offered the above terms to selected customers.
Here’s the deal: the company will undertake a productive thinking program for a fee determined by the client once the activity has been undertaken. “The idea is based around picking and agreeing upon a key issue of concern to the business right now,” says CEO Ken Wall. “We agree on a rough timeframe, then get to work. We take the group through the Productive Thinking process, from identifying the real issue to having a well qualified solution ready for implementation. The solutions will typically include a proposed action plan and a picture of likely benefits and costs.
“The decision to implement any or all of the solutions is up to the organisation and it’s at this point that they’ll be asked to decide what they think the solution is—or might be—worth to the organisation. Then they decide what to pay us.”
The offer is a pilot program at this stage, but Ken will consider rolling it out if it goes well. “We are demonstrating our faith in the Productive Thinking model and the facilitation skills of our consultants,” says Ken, “And our clients are being given the opportunity to solve a thorny issue in a time in which there are many of them!”
Crazy or clever? What do you think?
