The book discusses how decentralized, leaderless organizations like Skype, Craigslist, Wikipedia and open source software operate similarly to starfish, which can regrow lost limbs. These "starfish organizations" have horizontal structures without clear leaders, allowing anyone to contribute. They are resilient as there is no central point of failure. However, profits may decrease as industries decentralize. The book provides principles for understanding and managing starfish organizations, and discusses how companies can benefit from incorporating some of their properties.

1. The Starfish and the Spider:The Unstoppable Power of Leaderless Organizations By OriBrafman and Rod A. Beckstrom

2. Starfish and Spiders? Spiders Hierarchical Clear leaders Departments Titles Communication is difficult Starfish Horizontal Structure Everyone has equal say Can operate sporadically Direct communication http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d0/Ryuthela.secundaria.female.-.takinawa.jpg http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0d/Starfish.jpg

3. For Example… http://www.bittorrent.com/ http://images.gizmag.com/hero/skype.jpg http://clovisexperts.com/files/2009/09/craigslistLogo.gif http://blog.toggle.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/emule_logo1.jpg http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/7b/Edonkey2000_logo.gif http://dnn.epcc.edu/nwlibrary/borderlands/25/Images/AA%20Logo.jpg http://www.blogsdna.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/kazaa-logo.gif http://i.zdnet.com/blogs/25966-hi-napster.jpg?tag=mantle_skin;content http://www.textually.org/ringtonia/archives/2010/06/05/limewire-logo.jpeg http://www.hostsaint.com/webhosting/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=51&Itemid=57

4. And to a Lesser Extent… http://www.fredberinger.com/images/google_logo.jpg http://blogs.ft.com/fttechhub/files/2010/01/ebay-logo.jpg http://www.supermopi.com/joomla/images/stories/mopi_photos/amazon.jpg

5. Examples of Starfish The following examples are explicitly stated in the book Skype Craigslist Apache (web software, and Native Americans) Wikipedia http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a8/Blue_starfish_in_Papua_New_Guinea.jpg

6. How is Skype a Starfish? Free program Enabled to talk to others using the program Distributed computing power using p2p http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_U4mS133rdMA/S-FIZYH3X4I/AAAAAAAAAQI/o2zQQM6NcAg/s400/angry-on-the-phone.gif http://www.chipchick.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/hoaxcall.jpg

7. What about Craigslist? Direct interaction between users Craigslist is only a platform to use No history between users, just come and go Originally just an idea between Craig and friends http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a3/Handshake_%28Workshop_Cologne_%2706%29.jpeg

8. Apache (web software) Engineers were unhappy with being ignored Contributors developed code and patches These were implemented based on which ones worked the best No formal direction http://haacked.com/Images/haacked_com/WindowsLiveWriter/twitter-maintenance.gif

9. Apache (Native Americans) Spiritual leaders called Nan’tans Based on previous reputation Nobody was obligated to follow http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cd/Apache_portraits.jpg

10. Alcoholics Anonymous Formed from a previous church program using 6 steps Formation of the circle group aided cohesion Added and expanded to other situations http://www.aa.org/pics_site/noflash_people.gif

11. P2P Technologies Based on sharing Everyone contributes Adds to the value of the network with new members Always under development http://www.wikinoticia.com/images/alt1040/cdn.alt1040.com.files.2010.11.online-video-p2p.jpg http://openp2p.com/pub/a/p2p/2001/11/08/wed_photos2.html

12. Wikipedia The famous and well-known Wikipedia Anyone can contribute Can be applied to almost anything http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a6/Wikipedia_Michelangelo.JPG

13. Major Principles First: When attacked, a decentralized organization tends to become even more open and decentralized Second: It’s easy to mistake starfish for spiders Third: An open system doesn’t have central intelligence; the intelligence is spread throughout the system

14. Principles (cont.) Fourth: Open systems can easily mutate Fifth: The decentralized organization sneaks up on you Sixth: As industries become decentralized, overall profits decrease Seventh: When attacked, centralized organizations tend to become even more centralized

15. Ingredients Circles The Catalyst Ideology The Preexisting Network The Champion http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2a/Baking.jpg

16. Catalysts Most important part of the Starfish Germinate the idea and help to spread it until it can grow on its own Very separate from a CEO http://www.columbia.edu/cu/biology/courses/c2005/purves6/figure06-14.jpg

17. What are Ways to Defeat the Starfish? Change the ideology Make them more centralized Decentralize yourself

18. Are Starfish Organizations Better? There’s give and take Decrease in profits Give up direction Gain valuable information Able to respond quicker

19. Hybrid Organizations Centralized company that decentralizes internal parts of the business Jack Welch and GE Centralized company that decentralizes customer experience Google Amazon eBay

20. How Can We Find a Balance? Story of Toyota and GM Mixing and mingling employees This balance may change over time

21. Rules to Keep in Mind for the New Age Diseconomies of Scale The Network Effect The Power of Chaos Knowledge at the Edge Everyone Wants to Contribute http://nummynims.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/starfishpile.jpg?w=500&h=333

22. Rules (cont.) Beware the Hydra Response Catalysts Rule Values ARE the Organization Measure, Monitor, Manage Flatten or be Flattened http://www.wired.com/images_blogs/wiredscience/2009/11/spiders_4b.jpg

23. Personal Thoughts on the Book Disappointed there was no mention of Bittorrent, Freenet, Tor, or Linux http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/ff/Tor_logo0.png http://www.welove-music.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/torrent.jpg http://1stblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/freenetproject.jpg