Success in the Relationship Age: building quality relationship assets for market value creation

Today, we are at one of those rare inflection points along the path of human economic development. As the Industrial Age gave way to the Information Age, so now the Information Age has given way to the Relationship Age. Relationship Age economies, rather than based on raw materials or information, are based on the “hidden” assets of the firm, otherwise known as intangible assets. Intangible assets comprise the majority of a firm’s market value and the majority of intangible assets constitute the value contained within relationships: relationships with customers, employees, partners and suppliers. To find success in the Relationship Age and to drive sustainable market value, firms will need to develop a balanced approach in goal setting, quality programs and management techniques to grow and maximize their most important capital store, relationship assets.