This interesting article in the Guardian “Disorganized but effective: how technology lowers transaction costs” highlights how lower the transaction costs has allowed the development of such amorphous groups such as Anonymous or the Occupy movement.
Interestingly, the article takes a perspective on the dramatic change of our capabilities in terms of ‘transaction cost’ that is very similar to our Fourth Revolution concept based on our communication capabilities. It is the same of course. The previous Fundamental Revolutions always saw the creation of more organized bureaucracy – the Agricultural Age’s bureaucracy paving the way for the Industrial Age’s Corporation. The Fourth Revolution is the era of chaos and complexity. And for the first time we can organize chaotic groups that deliver effectively.
Not just the Anonymous, Occupy, other activists but also many groups that are not so much on the dark side, like all the Open Source movement: these are all amorphous groups without visible structure; their weak structure is constantly evolving and never fixed, completely akin to turbulent flow. They rely heavily on technology to communicate, using automation and a choice of synchronous and asynchronous tools.
These groups are in advance on their time; soon we’ll all participate to such groups because chaos begets creation, the value engine of the Fourth Revolution. They are the real precursors of the Collaborative Age turbulent organization.
Welcome to a chaotic, and effective world – Welcome to the Future of the Organization!
