Shifting Powers.
When we looked at organisations and the changing structures (silos to networks) my first thoughts were “messy and complicated”. The change between the two is huge. On one side, you have well ordered, simplistic top down structure and on the other side there are cross-functional, interdependent systems with no clear beginning and end.
What I realised was that much like in the organisations structures, societies is very much network like. As individuals, most of us operate within our own network structure, which is quite clear to us, and we understand. Our own network along with everyone else’s operates within the wider networks that exist.
When looking at business operations and end user interactions that are in play within these networks it seems that distance is dead. Improvements in the speed of information from the internet have created pathways to do almost anything from the comfort of your living room. Fixed assets can almost entirely be eliminated as Amazon.com proved.
One lingering worry I have is that with the shift from the tangible to the intangible are people and business giving power to the system. By that, I mean what would happen, where would we be if a real Y2K type problem occurred. The shift in power is clearly towards the new economy, advances in technology and cyberspace. Nevertheless, what happens if the geeks get it wrong? Where does the balance of power shift from there?
It’s interesting that you talk about it all going wrong. My sister-in-law has this opinion: Once the oil economy collapses (in 2040 China alone will need more oil than the world can produce) the people who are essentially not producing any tangible goods (knowledge economy) will not have the skills needed to simply survive.