Don Tapscott: Four principles for the open world

Summary

In a thought-provoking discourse, the speaker explores the transformative power of openness in the digital age. He highlights how technology and the emergence of the 'Net Generation' are reshaping collaboration, transparency, and empowerment. Through stories like the Goldcorp Challenge, he illustrates the benefits of sharing knowledge and intellectual property. The speaker emphasizes the role of social media in social movements, showcasing its potential for collective action and change. Ultimately, he envisions a future where networked intelligence fosters collaboration and addresses global challenges, urging us to embrace this new paradigm for a better tomorrow.

Takeaways

• 😀 Openness signifies opportunities and possibilities across various sectors, including technology and collaboration.
• 🌐 The Internet has evolved from a content presentation platform to a global computational network, enabling collaborative programming and innovation.
• 👶 The Net Generation, or digital natives, are uniquely equipped to utilize technology effortlessly and fearlessly.
• 💡 Collaboration is crucial, exemplified by Rob McEwen's Goldcorp Challenge, which showcased the power of collective intelligence in problem-solving.
• 🔍 Transparency is becoming essential for organizations as they are held accountable to stakeholders through increased scrutiny.
• 🔄 Sharing intellectual property, as demonstrated by IBM's support of the Linux movement, can lead to substantial business benefits.
• 💊 The pharmaceutical industry faces challenges that require a shift towards sharing precompetitive research and clinical data to foster innovation.
• 📢 Empowerment is being redefined through distributed knowledge and social media, enabling movements like the Arab Spring.
• 🐦 The natural world, like the murmuration of starlings, exemplifies effective collaboration and interdependence, providing lessons for human organizations.
• 🌍 The future holds promise for a networked intelligence that transcends individual capabilities, potentially addressing significant global challenges.

Q & A

What is the primary theme of Joseph Geni's talk?

The primary theme is the concept of openness in society, driven by technological advancements and the characteristics of the Net Generation, which allows for collaboration, transparency, sharing, and empowerment.

How does Geni differentiate between the old and new Internet?

Geni describes the old Internet as a platform primarily for content presentation, while the new Internet acts as a global computer enabling computation and collaboration among users.

What is the significance of the Goldcorp Challenge mentioned in the talk?

The Goldcorp Challenge illustrates how opening up an organization to external insights can lead to significant innovations and success, as Rob McEwen leveraged global expertise to find billions in gold.

What are the four key principles of openness identified by Geni?

The four principles are collaboration, transparency, sharing, and empowerment, each representing a different aspect of how openness can transform organizations and society.

What role does transparency play in modern institutions, according to Geni?

Transparency involves clear communication of pertinent information to stakeholders, making institutions 'naked' and requiring them to build trust through integrity and value.

How does Geni connect the concept of sharing to the pharmaceutical industry?

He argues that the pharmaceutical industry needs to share precompetitive research and clinical trial data to create collective benefits and address challenges like the impending 'patent cliff.'

What historical analogy does Geni use to illustrate the evolution of societal structures?

Geni compares today's open world to the changes initiated by the printing press, which democratized knowledge and ultimately led to significant societal shifts, like the Protestant Reformation.

In what way does Geni view social media's role in political change?

Geni views social media as a tool for empowerment and rebellion, noting its crucial role in movements like the Arab Spring, where it facilitated communication and organization among protestors.

What does Geni mean by 'networked intelligence'?

Networked intelligence refers to the collective knowledge and capabilities that can be harnessed through interconnected individuals and organizations, enabling collaborative problem-solving on a global scale.

What metaphor does Geni use to explain the principles of collaboration and interdependence?

He uses the metaphor of a murmuration of starlings to illustrate how collective behavior and shared information can protect and empower individuals, reflecting the potential of collaboration in society.