After recently reading a Globe and Mail Article, I found a great example of how interesting and important I find the idea of creating shared value in business. In this case, a pair of Western grads precisely captured the 2nd criteria we discussed in class and read about in the Harvard Business Review’s article: Redefining productivity in the value chain. They pursued a social entrepreneurial-geared idea to create shared value within their workplaces, founding an online platform called “Sprout at Work”.

One of the issues that many desk job, long working hour oriented companies face is the deterioration of employee health, and in turn decreased productivity. I strongly believe valuable, hard-focused-work begins at your core, and without ample time and motivation to keep a healthy lifestyle; this priority can be dropped to the bottom of the list. With Sprout at Work, a social game is made of becoming healthier.Employees become actively involved and focused on staying active, sharing experiences with each other.

The idea then has the opportunity to directly improve employee skills and health, and in turn boosting the company’s overall productivity and value of work. With happier, healthier, and more effective people in the workplace, comes an endless amount of value beyond the confines of the 10×10 feet cubicles.

// Nike Accelerator Program: http://www.nikefuellab.com/