I conceive of the value of a company to be the amount of added efficiency it brings to processes undertaken by its customers. If the company and product can either save or give entities time or money, it can theoretically extract some of those efficiency gains in the form of money. I think the "what people want" objective misses the mark a bit, since it implies an a priori desire for the wanted thing in advance of that thing existing. In practice, people just want efficiency and certain products are better at producing that at scale than others.
Good point. Minecraft provides a lot of value for me and my family. It is a game we play together, even though we live towns apart. It is also a game that I'm using to teach my girls how to program (on the Rpi). Who knows what my girls will go on and build? Wealth can be created by things we misjudge.
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I conceive of the value of a company to be the amount of added efficiency it brings to processes undertaken by its customers. If the company and product can either save or give entities time or money, it can theoretically extract some of those efficiency gains in the form of money. I think the "what people want" objective misses the mark a bit, since it implies an a priori desire for the wanted thing in advance of that thing existing. In practice, people just want efficiency and certain products are better at producing that at scale than others.
A counterexample would be entertainment, e.g. minecraft.
Good point. Minecraft provides a lot of value for me and my family. It is a game we play together, even though we live towns apart. It is also a game that I'm using to teach my girls how to program (on the Rpi). Who knows what my girls will go on and build? Wealth can be created by things we misjudge.
It is also a game that I'm using to teach my girls how to program (on the Rpi).
That sounds cool, please explain more :)