Don Tapscott Speaks

I found this interesting video of Don Tapscott, the author of “Wikinomics,” speaking at Cambrian House. Cambrian House is a web-based community owned business whose mission is to discover and commercialize software ideas through the participation of crowds. I thought it was rather interesting to hear Tapscott discuss his views on mass collaboration and how lowering collaboration costs have moved us to today’s crowdsourcing movement. I also thought Cambrian House was a good example of the mass collaboration and peering that we have read about. Anyone can submit a software idea and the other users vote on the best one. The company has launched three successful products: Prezzle, RobinHoodFund and Gwabs.  This is peer production at its best.

Great minds think alike

The one thing that the three articles have in common is that communication technology is not only useful for maintaining our social relationships, but it is also severely improving the success of businesses as well.  “Wikinomics” by Anthony Williams and Don Tapscott, focuses on the corporate shift from a hierarchical organization to a more sociable approach.  Companies are now depending on mass collaboration to find internal solutions.  While “Wikinomics” and “The Wealth of Networks” focus on communication technology from a corporate perspective, “Sociable Media” by Judith Donath writes from a more personal level.  “Today, there is growing awareness of the importance of the social uses of media and much more effort is being made to create deliberately sociable media” (Donath, p. 2). 

“Millions of media buffs now use blogs, wikis, chat rooms, and personal broadcasting to add their voices to a vociferous stream of dialogue and debate called the ‘blogosphere’” (Williams,Tapscott p. 1).  Certainly, companies have and will continue to benefit from mass collaboration.  McDonald’s is a well-known example.  After conducting a global contest among design firms, the burger giant chose Lippincott Mercer to redesign the popular eatery.  The redesigned restaurant was met with major success.

 Despite the many success stories, some may argue that these new media forums and “global firms” will devalue expertise.  Now that individuals have the opportunity and means to generate goods, how do I trust the products or services that I receive?  Years ago, you went to the doctor to find out about the pain in your neck; now you go to WebMD, diagnose it yourself and figure out what medicines you want.  Although external scrutiny can protect the public from professionals acting in their own self-interest, we need to figure out a way to separate the amateur from the professional.  “Tens of millions of people share their news, information, and views in the blogosphere, a self-organized network of over 50 million personal commentary sites that are updated every second of the day” (Williams,Tapscott p. 12). 

Benkler, who argues that the economy’s shift from an industrial information economy to a networked information economy provides the consumer with a more active role in production, makes a valid point when he says this creates a more of a democratic society.  External scrutiny does not only protect the public from professionals acting in their own self-interest, but it also intensifies the watch-dog role of the public.  Media forums, such as blogs or chat rooms, serve as a way for people to seek opinions and information that either challenge or develop their own.  Although you can view these media forums as devaluing expertise, they still provide a venue for public debate.  “Missing an opportunity to enrich democracy, freedom, and justice in our society while maintaining or even enhancing our productivity would be unforgivable” (Benkler, p. 28). 

 People now understand the importance of sociable media to our everyday lives.  Although communication technologies were not necessarily built for sociability, by nature people continue to find ways of using communication mediums for social purposes.  From these social uses comes ways of gaining control and becoming active in our economic lives.  Many would think that collaborating with intelligent and skillful people would mean guaranteed success.  After all two heads are better than one.  We need to keep in mind, however, the repercussions of a society where anyone can add their two cents.