Networks III
In anticipation of launching in Socialtext a new expert resource focused on the idea of a national ID card, we asked Ross Mayfield to describe for us the essential first steps.
His advice: Keep in mind that "projects evolve, groups are dynamic, and participants may be able to contribute patterns to work together that you cannot anticipate."
His complete response follows:
From Ross Mayfield:
"Using Socialtext, it's as simple as giving the project a name and clicking a button to create a new space for a new group. A simple framing structure such as project goals, roles and leading questions can spark the the project. Having a shared space in a tool as easy to use as email to foster private conversations is simply more efficient than email for project communication.
"You do not have to define a process for collaboration up front. Instead, let the conversation reveal the business practice and adjust the structure of the space on the fly. This is important because projects evolve, groups are dynamic and participants may be able to contribute patterns to work together that you cannot anticipate. Working with this loosely formed group with a process-oriented application would instead have you define rules and structure up-front
which can serve as barriers to cooperation. Instead, embrace change and trust participants.
"One of the better properties of Social Software is easy group forming. When groups can form at a low cost, the value of the network scales according to Reed's Law (2^N) instead of Sarnoff's Law for a Broadcast Network (N) or Metcalfe's Law (N^2). In other words, the value of the network is the ties between groups and their latent potential for action. This has profound implications for business, politics and media. A user group can arise to challenge a vendor. A group can form to create a group weblog to rival a media organization. A group can form for a previously unrepresented constituency to take collective action.
"Projects come and go. Forming a group of experts on a National ID card can serve the goal of revealing issues and potential solutions. But the social ties that are fostered in this collaboration will remain. Their latent potential could be re-activated in a different social context, perhaps to work on a solution, at any time. This hints at where I believe PR expert systems are going -- where introductions are not one-offs, but moments where the network structure collapses for a goal and to nurture a dynamic social network of professionals."
Author: Dan Forbush | Jul 12, 04 | Permalink
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Category: @ Dan Forbush | Topic 1 PR and Participatory Journalism
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