[p2p-research] [OK] Necessary research on open enterprise ecosystems

[Samuel Rose]

More to consider:

There is a perspective that comes from Game Theory (Axelrod, Ostrum,
Hardin, John Holland and now also informs complex systems theory) and
complex xystems modeling that lets us predict in many ways how both
pooling of resources, and compensation systems might work in what you
are calling "open enterprise".

The main question you can ask is: what "game" do people realize they
are "playing"? Those people that are operating under the belief that
they can leverage common pool resources for limited, scarcity-based
short term gain for a small percentage of  the overall people
involved, are actually "losing" the "tragedy of the commons" "game".
You can run actual agent based model simulations of this to confirm
that any one agent operating this way will destroy the pool or commons
over time. This suggests that if/where "open" tends to really equal
"commons", that the ecology is a long term investment pay-off (not a
short term quick payoff).  At times, you may also detect that some
people within an "ecosystem" believe they are "playing" the "tit for
tat iterated prisoner's dilemma" while the rest are operating in a
commons paradigm. They may believe that everyone "says" they are
participating in commons-based ways, but they all are really "playing"
"IPD". These are worldviews/fundamental assumptions that constrain
what people will be willing and ready to do now.

Ostrum and some colleagues authored a book a few years ago worth
looking at, titled "recognizing knowledge as a commons". This gives
some clues about a framework for managing knolwedge as a commons.

My opinion is that the best thing you could research now would be how
existing projects successfully operate with a combination of revenue
models and common pool resources (without the short-term pressure of
the pursuit of revenue dominating and destroying the commons-based
activity).

RepRap and Arduino are two "mature" projects worth looking at in
distributed manufacturing space, if you buy into the model I am laying
down here. They have at least close to successful symbiosis (*not*
"integration") of business and commons.



On Sun, Jan 24, 2010 at 9:38 AM, Samuel Rose <samuel.rose at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi Matt,
>
>
> On Sun, Jan 24, 2010 at 12:33 AM, Matt Cooperrider
> <mattcooperrider at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Hi All,
>>
>> As I've mentioned before, I have to produce a 50 page thesis paper for my MA
>> at NYU.  My topic has always been, more or less, "open enterprise".
>>
>> I've made many attempts, but I always suffer from scope creep.  Perhaps if I
>> am working on something that is needed and useful right now, I can stay
>> focused.  Also, I've have never had access to so many people talking about
>> open enterprise together in one space as I do now.
>>
>
> There are multiple angles you could pursue, Matt.
>
> It's my opinion that we are at the stage now where people need
> practical knowledge about succeeding as a commons-based networked
> enterprise.
>
> There are still serious issues with basic assumptions about
> compensation models, the value and worth of labor, and the assumptions
> people have about the sustainability of gratis/free content online.
>
> There are approaches to so-called "open enterprise" that are really
> just attempts at establishing and maintaining a digital form of
> serfdom. The perception is that it is even cheaper now to become rich,
> because speculators can divert the value and flow of other's labor
> towards
>
> There are multiple widespread mis-perceptions about:
>
>
> 1. How co-leverage the value in networks
>
> 2. The core motivations of people participating in networks
>
> 3, What people in networks *are* (are they people to build
> relationships with based around activities and problems of mutual
> interest, or are they resources to be used?)
>
> I've also got some material in
> http://holocene.cc/wagn/Sustaining_online_communities_that_are_connected_to_open_enterprise
>
>
>
>> So, open question: what would be the most useful piece of specific, concrete
>> research on open enterprise ecosystems that I could contribute right now?  I
>> have until August.
>>
>> MC
>>
>> p.s. FF dudes, I'm looking at you 8-)
>>
>> --
>> Matt Cooperrider, Consultant
>> BLOG: http://mattcoop.com
>> SITE: http://collabforge.com
>> TWITTER: @mattcoop
>> PHONE: 347.878.8277
>> M.O.: http://notanemployee.net/
>>
>> --
>> This is a message from the OpenKollab Google Group located at
>> http://groups.google.com/group/openkollab?hl=en
>> To post to this group, send email to openkollab at googlegroups.com
>
>
>
> --
> --
> Sam Rose
> Forward Foundation
> Social Synergy
> Tel:+1(517) 639-1552
> Cel: +1-(517)-974-6451
> skype: samuelrose
> email: samuel.rose at gmail.com
> http://socialsynergyweb.com
> http://forwardfound.org
> http://socialsynergyweb.org/culturing
> http://flowsbook.panarchy.com/
> http://socialmediaclassroom.com
> http://localfoodsystems.org
> http://notanemployee.net
> http://communitywiki.org
>
> "The universe is not required to be in perfect harmony with human
> ambition." - Carl Sagan
>



-- 
-- 
Sam Rose
Forward Foundation
Social Synergy
Tel:+1(517) 639-1552
Cel: +1-(517)-974-6451
skype: samuelrose
email: samuel.rose at gmail.com
http://socialsynergyweb.com
http://forwardfound.org
http://socialsynergyweb.org/culturing
http://flowsbook.panarchy.com/
http://socialmediaclassroom.com
http://localfoodsystems.org
http://notanemployee.net
http://communitywiki.org

"The universe is not required to be in perfect harmony with human
ambition." - Carl Sagan