Core value: what it is and what it means

A core value is a stable criterion that guides observable behavior at the moments when it would be legitimate to act differently. It is not the same as universal ethical principles: a core value is a distinctive criterion that guides choices when legitimate alternatives exist. It is not the same as the mission (the mission describes what the company does and for whom; values describe how it does it), nor as a code of ethics (the code prescribes formal prohibitions, values guide decisions in cases no rule covers). If a value never forces you to give something up, it is not a value but a slogan.

Distinctive: distinctive criterion
Distinctive: legitimate alternatives
Essential: stable criterion
Essential: observable behavior
Essential: legitimate to act differently
Constant: guides choices

Glossary

Core value

A stable criterion that guides observable behavior at the moments when it would be legitimate to act differently.