Cost over Quality

I haven't been blogging for awhile. I admit it. Mostly because I've been focusing on our self-study program promotion and delivery in Silicon Valley. It's been a bit discouraging to approach the Indian market because I'm finding that there is a definite preference for "low cost" over "high quality."

As practitioners, we have to ask ourselves what our priorities are. Of course, we want to move into new markets and create niches for ourselves, and we often have to be creative to do that, but I find myself strategizing how to make it "cost effective" by international standards without compromising quality?

It's understandable that in Silicon Valley (where I live) people are willing to pay for value - they see and experience the difference, have lived here for many years and already tried low-cost options that didn't yield a great result and are ready for something better, but what about internationally where the cost is the driving decision maker (or breaker)?

I found when discussing options with contacts in India that it was all about "price" and not about "how effective is your training? how is it different? what is the value?"

In the US, we take courses around "value proposition" and probably because everyone does, it's an easier concept to relate to and understand. The "cultural barrier" in a sense is conveying the long term potential (in profitability and quality)to the "gatekeepers" who are in the position to choose a more effective solution for their employees.

I'm in the processing of strategizing ways to reduce the "human effort" - which always reduces the cost! - like offering more video and self-learning as opposed to live instruction, especially a blended approach to get the value of both worlds, but the question is: what will finally win the approval of the "decision makers"? How do we make it cost effective without reducing quality?

Still struggling with this concept ... more to come.