People driving technology

This blog discusses a conference that proposes to plan how Web 2.0 can be used to drive Communities of Practice.

Although CP Square proposed that non-members could join, it missed the point that if you set barriers, fees, and lock knowledge away, it becomes irrelevant. Social connectivity towards knowledge construction is the cornerstone of both Communities of Practice and Web 2.0

The proposed questions are interesting ones for us to debate.

Are there boundaries?

How can we build trust without boundaries?

Boundaries could be seen as less dichotomous than in the past. Feminist philosophy values diversity, not homogeneity. A loose boundary allows free flow of information and networking in across the boundary of the CoP. Defining the issues produces boundaries not artificial containers of people. Cross organisational networks and CoPs indicate the value in breaking down boundaries. Trust and security, socially responsible behaviour and ownership are the mainstays of social boundaries.

The Mormon philosophy of silent witness provides a clue. If all communication in a CoP and using Web 2.0 is visible, then the power of the silent witness occurs. The power of the grapevine communication, social networking, keeps people trustworthy.

I believe that moral and ethical education is paramount towards this new social revolution, not only to understand the processes for self but also identify with critical evaluation the wrong information and non-trustworthy connections. There is still too great a power invested in corporations to manipulate the Web and political propaganda to manipulate people.

I predict that corporations and global enterprises will decline, they are already disintegrating. I predict that oppressive political systems will decline.We are already seeing regimes dismantle, communism collapsing, the Berlin Wall fall, people power stopping McDonald's and shopping complexes being built in communities and Nike having to change its production philosophy due to people power.

I predict that the local small businesses will flourish and they are dependent upon trust.

They live in the community and are dependent upon it. They will serve rather than dominate people.

White, N (2006) Web 2.0 and Communities of Practice: What gives? Retrieved 23/11/2007 from http://www.fullcirc.com/weblog/2005/12/web-20-and-communities-of-practice.htm