Wikinomics

Wikinomics: How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything
by Don Tapscott and Anthony D Williams

I'm slowly working my way through this fascinating book at the moment. It's about the way business is being transformed by the use of global collaboration through the internet. Concepts like "open source" and "prosumers" are explored in depth with revealing stories from corporate history.

"Open Source" is a phrase usually used to describe computer programs that are made available in a way that anyone competent can edit and improve. They are not "owned" by a big software company, but are continually changed, adapted and improved by a community of developers...
"Ideagoras" are market places where ideas, designs or inovations are shared or sold. Companies invite anyone to submit answers to specific questions, or new ideas are posted with the hope that someone will find them useful...
"Prosumers" are consumers who play an active role in designing the things they buy...

Although this book is largely about the business world, there is a lot that the church can learn. How can we develop "open source" approaches to worship resources or planning? Could we develop "ideagoras" where theological ideas can be borrowed and explored? Can we turn "pew warmers" into "prosumers"?

This is a book worth reading, although it's already beginning to look a bit dated... Some of the developments described here are mirrored by changes taking place in church life. There is learning here...