Organizing
How are social media changing organizing?

What is “organizing”?

What is “organizing”?
2+ individuals +

What is “organizing”?
2+ individuals +
common goal +

What is “organizing”?
2+ individuals +
common goal +
working towards that goal (collaboration)

What is “organizing”?
2+ individuals +
common goal +
working towards that goal (collaboration)
x [facilitated by communication] =

What is “organizing”?
2+ individuals +
common goal +
working towards that goal (collaboration)
x [facilitated by communication] =
ORGANIZING

communication = organizing

“When we change
the way we communicate,
we change society.”
Shirky, p. 17

new communication
technology
“When we change
the way we communicate,
we change society.”
Shirky, p. 17

new communication
technology
“When we change
the way we communicate,
we change society.”
Shirky, p. 17 new types of
communication

new communication
technology
“When we change
the way we communicate,
we change society.”
Shirky, p. 17 new types of
communication
new types of
group forming

new communication
technology
“When we change
the way we communicate,
we change society.”
Shirky, p. 17 new types of
communication
“Ridiculously easy
group forming”
new types of
group forming

Organization(s)... before
structure of organization?
supervision?
motivation?
costs?
size?
location?
attitude twds failure?
http://www.ci.carbondale.il.us/?q=node/134

Barriers to group work
personality conflicts motivation
work ethics leadership ?!
chain of command time spent forming &
maintaining rels., group
schedule conflicts procedures
“A firm is successful when the costs of
directing employee effort are lower
than the potential gain from directing”
Shirky, p.30 - Coase, 1937

Barriers to group work
personality conflicts motivation
work ethics leadership ?!
chain of command time spent forming &
maintaining rels., group
schedule conflicts procedures
“A firm is successful when the costs of “...social tools don’t create
directing employee effort are lower collective action - they merely
than the potential gain from directing” remove the obstacles to it.”
Shirky, p.30 - Coase, 1937 Shirky, p.159

coordination needs

coordination through tagging

Barriers to group work
What happens when coordination costs = 0?

Barriers to group work
What happens when coordination costs = 0?
Actions that were not possible/not worth it
become possible

Barriers to group work
What happens when coordination costs = 0?
Actions that were not possible/not worth it
become possible
“loosely affiliated groups can accomplish
something more effectively than the
institution can” (Shirky p. 46)

Barriers to group work
What happens when coordination costs = 0?
Actions that were not possible/not worth it
become possible
“loosely affiliated groups can accomplish
something more effectively than the
institution can” (Shirky p. 46)
social media enable “...action by loosely
structured groups, operating without
managerial direction and outside the profit
motive”(Shirky p. 47)

Organization(s)... after
collective action
collaborative
production
cooperation
sharing Shirky
pp. 49-51

Organization(s)... after

Organization(s)... after
power law
distribution,
aka long tail
image: Ning blog

Organization(s)... after
power law
distribution,
aka long tail
image: Ning blog
What motivates people to contribute?

Organization(s)... after
power law
distribution,
aka long tail
image: Ning blog
What motivates people to contribute?

Organization(s)... after
small world network
http://www.experientia.com/blog/index.php?s=interconnect

Organization(s)... after
small world network
Capital:
✴Economic
✴Cultural
✴Social: http://www.experientia.com/blog/index.php?s=interconnect
✴bonding
✴bridging

Do the people who
What’s the
like it take care of VS
business model?
each other?
Community Corporation
support

Do the people who
What’s the
like it take care of VS
business model?
each other?
Community Corporation
support

Audience size & conversations
Broadcast
Fame
Loose Tight
Conversation Conversation
image: Ning blog
How should ________ use Twitter?

How to use social media:
promise
tool
bargain

How to use social media:
motivation ->
promise desire to
participate
tool
bargain

How to use social media:
motivation ->
promise desire to
participate
tool fit for the job?
bargain

How to use social media:
motivation ->
promise desire to
participate
tool fit for the job?
expectations; rules
bargain of conduct

How to use social media:
motivation ->
promise desire to
participate
tool fit for the job? +
expectations; rules
bargain of conduct

How to use social media:
motivation ->
promise desire to
participate
some sort
tool fit for the job? + of
governance
expectations; rules
bargain of conduct

What now?

What now?
“Our principal challenge is
not to decide where we want
to go but rather to stay
upright as we go there.”
Shirky, p. 300

What now?
“Our principal challenge is
not to decide where we want
to go but rather to stay
upright as we go there.”
Shirky, p. 300
“...the important questions
are not whether these tools
will spread or reshape
society but rather how they
do so.” -- Shirky, p.300

“Rather than either lamenting the influence of the
press or continually marveling at its initial usefulness,
[...] make an improvement ”
Shirky, p.305

“Rather than either lamenting the influence of the
press or continually marveling at its initial usefulness,
[...] make an improvement ”
Shirky, p.305
“...the future belongs to those who
take the present for granted ”
Shirky, p.305