Begin with a wider question
The Value Triangle article by Biloslavo, Bagnoli and Edgar appeared online in 2017 and in the 2018 journal volume. Its eco-critical analysis of 20 frameworks led to a model linking public, partner and customer value, with society, nature and future generations explicitly included. The contribution invites a broader conversation about what a business model makes visible.
This is a conceptual contribution illustrated through a company case. A diagram cannot, by itself, establish that an organisation is sustainable. The following exercise is an original educational example prepared for this editorial draft; it is not a case or a finding reported by the researchers.
Try a fictional repair service
Imagine a small company offering affordable appliance repairs. Customers may gain a longer-lasting product and avoid a replacement purchase. Partners may gain repeat work, while technicians may face extra travel or difficult scheduling. Neighbours may benefit from less discarded equipment, yet vehicle journeys and spare parts still carry environmental costs. These are possibilities to investigate, not measured benefits.
Put the proposed benefits and burdens on one page. Ask who experiences each effect, when it occurs and what evidence could support the claim. A repair count might describe activity, while product lifetime and material use address different questions. None of these measures should stand in for all the others.
Use the map to improve the next question
Choose one uncertain assumption and design a modest investigation. For example, interview customers about replacement decisions or follow a small set of repaired products over time. State the comparison clearly and record what remains unknown. The purpose is to make the reasoning inspectable before expanding a sustainability claim.
A productive discussion can finish with disagreement still visible: whose benefit matters, which burden is acceptable and who should take part in deciding? Keeping those questions open gives the next round of research or design a more precise starting point.
Questions to carry forward
- Which affected group is missing from the current business model discussion?
- Which claimed benefit needs evidence beyond a count of activities?
- What might change if consequences ten years from now were considered?