MFF BAS
Shared Values to Boost Collaborative Innovation
For the next step in evolving from NEDU to MFF BAS, it was considered to carefully look at the societal added value of MFF BAS and what shared values drive this energy-data sharing ecosystem.
MFF BAS benefitted from:
- Leading Industry Insights
- Independant Consultant to facilitate the exploration
- Scientific basis supported by a Nyenrode MBA paper
Situation
MFF BAS is a group of two organisations that have evolved from what was formerly known as NEDU. Since April 1, 2022, MFF has been a membership organisation where decisions are made, while BAS ensures those decisions get implemented in practice. Jointly, MFF BAS is active in the energy data-sharing space in the Netherlands. Most organisations in the Netherlands that generate, exchange, or utilise energy data are involved.
Since the start of MFF BAS, the focus has primarily been on adding new members and setting up and improving their governance and working methods. Ethics or doing ‘right’ were not top of mind yet during their day-to-day. MFF BAS was mostly leaning on compliance to do right. When I met with Klaas Hommes, director of BAS, he said now is the time to also talk about the societal added value of MFF BAS. What values drive MFF BAS to do the right thing? The timing, he said, was perfect.
The situation at MFF BAS is also interesting because this is a highly organised data-sharing ecosystem. Members meet and discuss new features to implement on the platform. Depending on their role in the market, members can have different interests, but they all collaborate to make innovation happen.
This project was run parallel with my Modular MBA at Nyenrode for the Business Ethics in Context module.
Service
What I did for MFF BAS was first to study what was happening. There are over seventy members active, each with unique roles and interests. After some initial meetings and desk research, I identified the general problem with business ethics at MFF BAS, which made it addressable. I have offered insight into MFF BAS and where they could be with a more value-driven approach using business ethics.
After this initial stage, I conducted numerous interviews with people working at MFF BAS and among the members. This allowed for diverse insights into what drives these members and what they expect to drive their membership organisation, MFF. In general, all respondents were open to contributing and recognised that this needs to be given the attention it deserves. With these interview results, an analysis was performed, resulting in, for example, the shared values of MFF BAS.
As a last step, an implementation plan was drafted, supported by the scientific paper for Nyenrode. It described the following steps for operationalising business ethics at MFF BAS and ensuring that the shared values start to live and breathe among the people working in and with MFF BAS.
Execution
This project has been conducted mainly remotely. The client was delighted with the results and that everybody was now talking about shared values and how they contribute to the operation. I worked independently, which unburdened the busy executive. Little time was required except for a regular update, and the result fully aligned with what was hoped for.
What MFF BAS liked:
“You managed to put ethics on the map in the energy industry. Before this, it was off our radar to consider values.”
Klaas Hommes
Director BAS
Results
The results for MFF BAS are that shared values have now become part of the discussions. Is their next feature that will be implemented in line with these shared values, and is it good for society? Having these values now explicit helps tremendously.
Having these shared values also makes running the business more efficient. Discussions do not first need to tackle whether something should be done. If something aligns with the shared values, a discussion can immediately jump to how to execute an idea.
For collaborative innovation in this ecosystem, having these shared values helps with the clarity it brings. This is what we stand for. This is what our innovations should push for. But having these shared values also improves members' trust, making them more willing to share their knowledge and expertise in this network that aims for the greater good.
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