Wikinomics

In the traditional business model a company dreams up a product, builds the prototype, develops the product through testing, accomplishes quality control and then brings the product to market. That paradigm is ending, or at least changing. This isn't just some new business theory - it a fundamental change in the way things are getting done. In the last few years, traditional collaboration—in a meeting room, a conference call, even a convention center—has been superseded by collaborations on an astronomical scale. Wikinomics is mainly about innovation and how web-based collaboration is driving it. Also, the book speaks to organizational dynamics and how the web is eating away at traditional hierarchies.

In the book, Wikinomics the , the authors document a new trend, a new way of getting things done that is changing traditional model in major ways. The word "wiki" means "quick" in Hawaiian, and here author and think tank CEO Tapscott (The Naked Corporation), along with research director Williams, paint in vibrant colors the quickly changing world of Internet togetherness, also known as mass or global collaboration, and what those changes mean for business and technology.



























In Google News I ran across a story about a new product Adobe is putting out called Photshop Lightroom 1.0. The software was freely available as a beta version for just over a year during which Adobe used its market; the professional photographer, to develop the final version. They called it a massive collaborative effort. While launching the new digital photography software, John Loiacono, senior vice president, Creative Solutions Business Unit at Adobe, has said, “It’s an unlikely scenario that professional photographers would moonlight as software developers,” adding further that “Fortunately for us, they were willing to give it a shot. Everything, from image viewing and evaluation tools to time saving editing features, was developed with the help of photographers. This was truly a collaborative effort and we extend our thanks to everyone who provided invaluable feedback to help us deliver a powerhouse professional photography tool.”

Wow, how's that for a new way to do business - allow the users to develop the product. The company saves most of the R&D cost, creates a better product, perhaps a cheaper product, and it's exactly what the end user wants. The beta version expires at the end of this month and the new version is available now.

This is an interesting trend and I recommend the book. Now only do you begin to see a new business model, but a new societal shift. (Witness Adobe in the news just today) For those who loved The World is Flat, but got lost in the global scope, Wikinomics focuses on our real-time world. Wikinomics focuses on the impact of recent technologies, and on the way business must conduct themselves for the future, if they want to thrive.

If you study this graphic a bit you can begin to see the power of global mind - wasn't there an old Star Trak about a race who existed in one body - a giant mind? I digress - here it is...