| Working Publically | 2002-06-01 02:34 9 comments |
 by Flemming FunchOne of the threads the Minciu Sodas Laboratory is exploring is that of "Working Publically". It doesn't quite reflect on the website yet, but it takes place on some of their mailing list discussion groups that I'm on. The same kind of thing is also going on on an increasing number of web logs (~news logs}, particularly amongst well-known techies on the net, like Jon Udell, Dave Winer or Adam Curry Those are examples of places where people are thinking aloud and commenting on each other's work, and trying to fit pieces together. So you get a view into what they're working on, who they're working with, what progress they're making, etc. Note how that at first glance looks similar to just commenting on interesting news items and giving your opininion, but it is quite different when it involves very visible progress and more and more pieces being connected together. It isn't necessarily predictable, planned, hierarchical progress. It mostly isn't. It's voluntary organization happening in an anarchy. What the folks at Minciu Sodas, like Andrius Kulikauskas are doing is a step further to some degree. It involves fairly publically talking about business. Sort of like "Hey, I have in mind we could offer so-and-so service to such-and-such group. Does anybody have any leads? I'm thinking of charging so-and-so. I'm currently doing xxx for zzz." ... I applaud and respect that kind of thing for several reasons. It takes guts to do one's work in the open. As I've commented before, most people seem to guard their business processes as state secrets. Doing it in the open allows others to learn from what one actually does, both successes and failures. And it is an exceptional demonstration of honesty and openness. I'd much rather work with people who do their work in the open that way. Also, making it visible what one is working on, even if it isn't finished, will allow others to bring in pieces for it. Some of the readers will know people that could be invaluable contacts. Some people will have experiences they can offer, and which avoids re-making other people's mistakes. And some people will directly have an important piece that is needed. For example, in the case of software it is obvious. Somebody else might already have done it, and can just put it in the mail for you. I would like to be better at working in the open. I do it in some areas, but not in others. I talk about my idealistic work, and some collaboration happens there, but I don't talk much about what I actually do for a living. |