This was the working name for LionsPaperOnWorkingOpenly, a paper that LionKimbro wrote for CIB, a book on CollectiveIntelligence. It was renamed to just, “Working Openly.”
Today I was annoyed at a company that has a relatively nice-looking web site. But while it claimed to have a product that I am considering buying, there were no prices listed. Just a statement at the bottom of the web page “email for a quote!”. (I suppose that’s an improvement over “Call for a quote!”).
Too bad for them. I’m buying stuff from a company that puts the actual prices on the website. And the website gives details exactly what components it is made of. And gives links to the manufacturers of those components – not just to the home page of those manufacturers, but deep linking to the component data sheets – to help me decide if it will work for me.
Instead of hiring an “expert” to install it, I’m going to ask questions at a free discussion forum. In return for their help, I’ll help newbies who come after me.
It seems like the idea of access to "all human knowledge" is shifting from a unrealistic component of some fiction into serious plans in our reality.
I’m trying to make the world better. Why deliberately throw a bunch of roadblocks in my way?
In their case, they have some sort of competitive reason.
In my case, I’m writing in a situation where there isn’t (or at least, by integrity, shouldn’t be,) such competition: the efforts of activists to create a friendlier & saner world.
I know this case. The relatively nice looking web site is the culprit here: you see, they paid for making it, and they don’t like to pay for having it updated each and every time the prices change. They probably outsourced it, so they don’t have anybody who would be able to update the database or anything like that.
Oh, wow, … I hadn’t even considered that..!
Hi Lion, loved your LionsPaperOnWorkingOpenly. Do you have it turned meanwhile into a book? Such a book would be even more “down to earth” than Brin’s TheTransparentSociety, encouraging concrete action. Hey, now I can’t understand, why we two had a crash ‘once upon a time’. We are on the same wave. Thank you.
TheSheep is so very right. One of the first things that I offer when working with people is to at least help them create a site for their company where they can update it, like a ContentManagementSystem?, for instance.
Beyond that, I also think that Adam Arvidsson is right, and this ties in with what DavidCary is talking about above, that the emerging economy is building and sustaining communities http://blog.p2pfoundation.net/ethical-economy/2007/11/19
By “communities” we mean open, and transparent, and accessible spaces for groups of people to discuss, share knowledge, and give and receive feedback to producers of content, artefacts (the things that will soon be formerly known as “products”) and services. The same thing should be there for employees of those services and companies. I am reading Lion’s paper right now, and will review for all blogs I write for.
Hi Fridemar – yes, the book is going to the printers (there’s still some “glue” work being done, as we speak.)
Your welcome; And, I find affinity with the HoofSmith story as well.
Just found this, and thought of your paper…
http://www.openplans.org/about
“OpenPlans? is a platform for social activism.
Whether your group is mobilizing voters, planning a protest, or growing a garden, OpenPlans? can help you become more effective. OpenPlans? is about greasing the wheels of democracy.
With our collaborative wiki pages and other tools, you and your group can:
Built on top of Plone http://www.openplans.org/projects/opencore/project-home
An interesting idea…
Define external redirect: ContentManagementSystem OpenPlans