Adding value in electronic publishing - taking the reader’s perspective

Abstract

The value chain, first proposed by Michael Porter, is an abstract model which aids understanding of the role of intermediaries in ‘adding value’ to raw material as it is processed for consumers. This paper sets out an adaptation of Porter’s original value chain model, modified to make it more applicable to the ‘information value chain’ - the processes by which this rather specialized raw material - ‘information’ - is processed between author and reader. As information dissemination moves from physical media to the network, this model provides a way of describing the impact of commodification of some aspects of traditional added value and of identifying where the greatest opportunities to add value will lie in the future.

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References

[1] A much fuller account of the thinking that led to the development of the original version of this model can be found in M. Bide (2001) Business Models for Distribution, Archiving and the Use of Electronic Information, Brussels, European Commission . This book was written in 1998 but has only recently been published.

[2] M.E. Porter (1985) Competitive Advantage. New York, The Free Press .