Doc Searls can be a difficult read for non-geeks but as author of the phrase, 'markets are conversations', senior editor of Linux Journal and a speaker about open source culture, he's very influential. I saw him speak at Reboot this year where he gave a presentation that was intriguing but too much to take in at the time. I've finally found it here. It's interesting because it suggests a framework in which open strategies can support closed strategies - pretty meaty stuff but very relevant for today's world. It also makes the simpler point...
...that in networked environments the demand side supplies itself ie if customers can't find exactly what they want in the marketplace, they will organise themselves to supply it. This is obviously true in the world of open source where networks of developers are constantly innovating and exchanging ideas. However, it's not too much of a stretch to see that it can be applied to user-generated forums such as the blogosphere. And it's a helpful way of thinking about the motivation behind innovative online communities. See what you think.
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