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Our purpose

We exist to help companies, investors and stakeholders gain the maximum benefit from the narrative in corporate reporting focused on future thinking and action.

Our mission

Our mission is to make the market value of listed companies a less risky and more certain proposition through the effective communication of intangible value.

Our vision

Our vision is to provide by the end of 2011 an effective and valued global service comparing intangible value in the corporate annual reporting of the world's leading companies.

Our clients

Investment firms use our research service to add depth and perspective to corporate governance, socially responsible and other more fundamental sources of investment research information, improving the quality of their decision-making.

Listed companies use our research and advisory services for an external perspective to benchmark how they measure up against peers, competitors, and exemplars, and to optimise the quality of their own corporate reporting.

Corporate communications, design and professional services firms use our research to help them enhance their own services to listed company clients. They also use our advisory service to assist them in developing new business.

Our services

We evaluate the narrative in corporate annual reporting for the quality of strategic thinking, planning, management and action evident. We analyse and score this using a framework outlined in best practice guidance to permit direct comparability against all other companies. The output from our analysis and evaluation is an in-depth 8-page profile and a separate ranking of all companies covered. Access options range from single profile purchase to unlimited library usage - more information.

We also help our clients to extract the maximum knowledge and value from the contents of our research library through specific and bespoke advisory services - more information.

Who we are

FutureValue is a specialist research-based consulting firm. It has pioneered and proved the Strategic Value Analysis technique. Ian McDonald Wood is the founder and Director of the research and advisory team.

FTSE350 likely to constrain economic recovery
Up to 40% of FTSE350 companies put increasing shareholder value before achieving strategic value in their business, according to our 2007-08 review. Yet, "shareholder value is the dumbest idea in the world", says Jack Welch of GE renown, speaking to the FT recently on 'The Future of Capitalism'. "Shareholder value is a result, not a strategy". Jack is considered the father of the shareholder value movement, following a 1981 speech. Now, he is recanting and claiming misinterpretation. Don't worry, Jack, we know that shareholder value is a product of strategic value, as now do most of our clients. Let's hope the message spreads fast to the rest of the FTSE350! For more information email Ian McDonald Wood


Strategic Value in Corporate Reporting Awards
The Strategic Planning Society Advisory Board has now published the short list for the 2009 Awards to be made in London on 29 April, and interest is growing. Mark Goyder, Founder Director of Tomorrow's Company, will make the keynote speech on 'Sustainability in Annual Reporting' and co-present the awards with the sponsors. Email awards@sps.org.uk for the full short list and an invitation to the event.


Company of the month
Gaining +2.4 to a score of 7.0 with its 2008 Annual Report, Thomas Cook Group has leapt from the cusp of the fourth quartile to the lower echelons of the first quartile. Notably, the spread of references to 'Strengths and Resources' in the 2008 ARA now provides a wide-ranging picture of the Group's underlying strategic capability. There is still plenty of room for improvement, but TCG should at least begin to engage analysts with this narrative.