The Social Life of Information
Just finished re-reading this gem of a book by John Seely Brown and Paul Duguid (of PARC fame.)
If you haven’t already, read it, and then notice it was first published in 2000 (not 2006!) and thank goodness these two didn’t patent all their ideas otherwise the lords of Web 2.0 would be giving their newly won fortunes to this pair!
What I like about this book is that is forces one to think hard about what hidden value is embedded in institutions and established paradigms. Basically to be careful about pronouncing the ‘end of’ any particular industry or institution or process. A cursory scan of the Park Paradigm might well lead one to believe that I have fallen into the trap (so eloquently described in The Social Life) of presuming the end of institutions and practices that in fact may well survive - and for good reason - the technological revolution. I would hope that a more assiduous reader however will have noticed that I try hard to heed Seely Brown and Duguid’s advice and to see beyond the obvious to understand what hidden or embedded reasons might exist to justify their continued existence. And that ultimately my vision of the future is less about the end of [insert various financial institutions and workflows] and more about their inevitable transformation. I think many (perhaps most) of today’s institutions will continue well into the future but upon close inspection will look very different to an observer 10 or 20 years from now. I forsee new entrants, emerging success stories but also believe that many of today’s organisations will persist (and some will thrive well into the future); but while institutions adapt, some individuals will find it hard to do so. Having spent 10 or 20 years learning the (existing) ropes and climbing the (existing) corporate ladder, many will resist vehemently giving up their sinecures. Or perhaps hope that they can hang on for a few more years in their existing universe and leave the change for the next guys.
Anyhow a great book for dinosaurs and meteor salesmen to discuss at their book club!
March 28th, 2007 at 3:11 pm
Must say that I love JSB, and John Hagel III. Way back in 2000 JH said that people would stop giving their “profile information” away for free, when they realised that their was no true value exchange going on here. With everyone signing up for social applications, and with initiatives like the Attention Trust coming to the fore, I think we can safely say that he is about 8 years ahead of the game.
April 26th, 2007 at 4:52 pm
[…] It’s information itself that is social — embedded, that is, in the active social relations of the people who create and use it. Access to that “sociality” of information is what turns it into useful, human knowledge - in business as in daily life. Recently, a Sean Park post reminded me of The Social Life of Information, by John Seely Brown and Paul Duguid that is essential reading for anyone interested in Enterprise 2.0. […]