Full value not added value

NCVO believes the idea of 'added value' is a crude and confusing way to think about the role voluntary and community organisations play in delivering public services. Instead, we propose that it is better to use the concept of 'full value' to help focus on what matters.

What is full value?

'Full value' is a way of thinking about and appreciating the total impact that an organisation or service has on the world. It includes:

• primary effects - benefits you create for your users or cause
• secondary effects - changes you bring about to other people or things
• experience - the level of satisfaction your organisation brings to everyone you have contact with.

Find out more about full value.

Moving on from added value

'Added value' is often used to describe the benefits of involving voluntary and community organisations (VCOs) in public service delivery. But it is unhelpful for a number of reasons:

• There is no clear understanding of what the term really means. This confusion makes it difficult for purchasers to take a clear and consistent approach to commissioning services from VCOs.
• It suggests VCOs are one homogenous group, all offering particular benefits, such as being user-focused, independent and values-driven. This is too simplistic.
• It suggests a special case has to be made for VCOs that want to deliver public services. This is unfair, both to potential suppliers from other sectors who also offer benefits such as a user focus, and to VCOs who may be expected to deliver more than bidders from other sectors.

A full value alternative

Instead, NCVO proposes that the full value idea is used to help:

• define what is really important in each public service
• select the best supplier for the job, regardless of their sector.

Full value in practice

VCOs can play an important role in working with commissioners to ensure users' needs are at the heart of scoping services, and that the right effects, or impact, is prioritised, and experiences are properly valued.

Potential service bidders, regardless of sector, can identify their own organisation's full value and select the appropriate elements to promote to commissioners and procurers.

Commissioners can use the full value concept to create a broader menu of potential priorities, which can be used to select the priorities that matter most for each service.

Read our full value think piece (PDF 175KB) or order a copy of our guide to full value.