Read an excellent review of this book in Management Today, which reminded me to comment. They also pointed out that it has a website linked to it www.wikinomics.com so the book will not go out of date...
If anyone has read this I wonder if they would like to comment on whether they think BizFace is an Ideagoras (matches of commercial problems with technical solutions) or something else?

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Dr Stephanie Morgan
Crosslight Management
www.crosslight.co.uk

Hi Stephanie,

I think it could be, but would be interested to hear a bit more about the psychological aspects to communicating online. I know you research in this area, so looking forward to some tips!

Yes there has been an increasing amount of research on this area, both in the educational field and in the development of 'communities' like this.

There is clear evidence that online interaction can lead to the development of communities and personal relationships. Most people eventually want to meet face to face as well, and indeed there is some suggestion that people may be more inclined to go to the face to face meetings after getting to know people online - so both forms of communication are important.

But also people can be a bit nervous of communicating online on a forum at first as it seems very public and permanent. We are doing the best we can to reassure everyone that no one will look 'silly' and that all the other members are feeling the same way. No one checks things like spellings on forums and the great thing about the permanence is precisely that your company information and your great ideas are here for potential customers and partners to see whenever they wish.

Also, it is quite a democratic medium, we are all equal here, no matter how large or small your company. So there are lots of positives about this type of communication.

I can say that I have worked with a range of communities, including students, online and it is quite interesting to experience when the community feel starts to develop.

More later!

Stephanie

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Dr Stephanie Morgan
Crosslight Management
www.crosslight.co.uk

I agree with beth it would be a good idea to hear some more about the psychology on on-line forums and postings and what makes a good post etc.

John

Right, I agree. Now I have got the backlog from the holiday sorted I will start up a thread!

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Dr Stephanie Morgan
Crosslight Management
www.crosslight.co.uk

Hah! Just found out that the second edition is not published yet (8 days to go) as Waterstones have just sent me an email with information about it - so I will get it and let you know what I think!

This is what they say:

The knowledge, resources, and computing power of billions of people are self-organizing into a massive new collective force. Interconnected and orchestrated through blogs, wikis, chat rooms, peer-to-peer networks, and personal broadcasting, the Web is being reinvented to provide the first global platform for collaboration in history. "Wikinomics" is the definitive investigation into how small businesses can achieve success by using a dynamic ecosystem of partners to co-create and peer-produce value in this newly-emerging, networked economy. Encouraging consumers, employees, suppliers, partners and competitors alike to share information and ideas, mass collaboration marks a profound change in the way business is conducted and radically alters the future of corporate architecture, strategy and management.

Sounds good...
Stephanie

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Dr Stephanie Morgan
Crosslight Management
www.crosslight.co.uk