Stephen Downes

I wouldn't say I buy into the Benefit Mindset as branded here but I learned a lot about managing to benefits while I was a program manager a few years ago and appeciate several aspects of the concept. The core idea is to examine a product or service from the perspective of the benefits it produces (as opposed to its function or output). A benefit can be financial (more revenue, lower costs) but if often non-financial (happiness, security, comfort, speed, style). This article, in my view, interprets the concept very narrowly: "Acceptance and affinity are especially important in the classroom... Feelings of community and collaboration make learning meaningful." These may be among the benefits of a classroom, but other people may be seeking much more tangible benefits.