The Four Principles Of Social Computing In Business

A comment from Andrew MacAfee that it is not management that slows Enterprise 2.0 adoption but users reminded me of the need to do anything to help them find their feet and gain confidence and that made me think of the power of Open Space whose Four Principles could easily be applicable to social computing in business:

Whoever comes are the right people - this is meant to alert the participants to the fact that whoever attends a session is "right" simply because they care to be there.

Whatever happens is the only thing that could have - this is meant to tell the attendees to pay attention to what is going on at the moment, instead of worrying about what could possibly be.

Whenever it starts is the right time - clarifies that there is no given schedule or structure and emphasises creativity and innovation.

When it's over, it's over - to tell the participants not to waste time, but move on to something else when the fruitful discussion is over.

source Wikipedia

As those of you who have experienced the power of Open Space will know these are not irresponsible laissez faire but tough principles that unlock all sorts of magic that would never happen in more directed environments.

Related posts:
<A serious point about levity.
A word or two on love
Stuff
Don't just do something stand there
Why it is the "social" in "social computing" that matters
My favourite Drucker quote ...
The perils of making things easy
We get the world we deserve
Is it just technology?
Are we mad?
The Boss Delusion
Trust

 Subscribe in a reader

Comments

[Mary Anne Davis]

Thank you for posting the Open Space principals. Yes, powerful stuff... :)

[Ed Charvet]

Yes that resonates. We are seeing in one client a combination of "forced" and "natural" behaviour focus on a collaborative environment. So far on balance it has not worked - !! - Well worked in the sense of the original and now naive expectations have not been met. To our delight the client is now moving into a new phase after 18 months and it is the "natural" behaviours that are going to win through and now steer the future direction. I suppose my debate is looking at what has been done and achieved by the combination of forced and natural, would we have the opportunity we now do if we had not "forced" the early and now part broken concept on people??

On that Euan...finally another penny is dropping. No more "bespoke" CMS/Blog engines for us...just the cheap established stuff. We do listen to you even it takes 12 months to sink in...

[Rex Lee]

I've always thought the self-organization concepts in OST was quite similar to self-organization concepts in social computing.

Thanks for posting.