Diary of a Knowledge Broker
http://www.newmediaexplorer.org/steve_bosserman/
Nearly 5 billion people, 80% of the world's population, cannot speak the "ground truth" about their experiences and circumstances. Technology has evolved to the point where the masses can not only say their truths unabated and unabridged, but can be heard. Truth heard and understood initiates positive actions in response--people take collective responsibility for life-sustaining patterns within their local communities.en-usSteve Bosserman2008-02-09T05:21:43+00:00Giving It Away, Making Money
http://www.newmediaexplorer.org/steve_bosserman/2008/02/09/giving_it_away_making_money.htm
The burgeoning "Internet Economy" is redefining operational assumptions and models for all organizations within the public and private sectors. This is particularly evident as free access to information increases and the clash between open source and proprietary development of software intensifies. But the transformation underway does not stop in the realm of bits and bytes; it is spilling into the traditional mainstays of agriculture and all types of industry and threatens to alter our most basic tenets of how to market, value, and receive compensation for our creativity, collaboration, and contribution. This posting explores some of the novel approaches underway in response to these changes and set the stage for...Organization DesignSteve Bosserman2008-02-09T05:21:43+00:00Greenhouses That Change the World
http://www.newmediaexplorer.org/steve_bosserman/2007/10/09/greenhouses_that_change_the_world.htm
Rick Nelson is the inventor of SolaRoof, a novel approach to greenhouse design and function that integrates a unique covering, heating / cooling system, and infrastructure / framework. It will revolutionize the greenhouse industry. More than that, once the materials are certified for use in human habitation, it will be disruptive to the housing and building industry as well. So what is SolaRoof, anyway, and why does it carry such potential to change the world? Let's find out. Revolutionary Technology: The greenhouse construction is unlike any other. Rather than a single layer of covering or glazing there are two. Each layer is a laminate of woven fiber mesh sandwiched in...Social AgricultureSteve Bosserman2007-10-09T00:45:47+00:00Cycles of Communication and Collaboration
http://www.newmediaexplorer.org/steve_bosserman/2007/09/22/cycles_of_communication_and_collaboration.htm
Recently, several of us were going over the litany of new terms for communication and collaboration "tools" that were less than 10 years old: blogs, mashups, crowdsourcing, webinars, podcasts, etc. just to name a few. It became obvious as we discussed it further than many of us in the conversation were relatively clueless when it came to defining what each is, what it does, how it works, and what were the benefits. As in most instances where there are too many dots and no clear picture in mind to connect them; a framework would be helpful. The quadrants and circular arrow in the diagram below illustrate a progressive path of...Organization DesignSteve Bosserman2007-09-22T17:03:07+00:00What Is an "Integrated Solution"?
http://www.newmediaexplorer.org/steve_bosserman/2007/07/15/what_is_an_integrated_solution.htm
A colleague of mine called the other day and wanted to know how I would answer the question, "What is an 'integrated solution'?" It seemed that he was entertaining this concept with others in senior management and he was struggling to find an answer that didn't sound like gobbledygook or pure philosophy and offered nothing pragmatic. In typical management fashion, he needed an answer right away. And, it would be particularly helpful if it could be condensed into a 10-second sound bite that anyone could comprehend. Of course, pressing all that knowledge and insight into a 10-second statement is quite a challenge; one that launched us into a 30-minute animated...Organization DesignSteve Bosserman2007-07-15T07:06:59+00:00Thoughts about Value-Add
http://www.newmediaexplorer.org/steve_bosserman/2007/07/12/thoughts_about_valueadd.htm
Value-add dominates our economic scorecard. It is relatively easy to calculate in a manufacturing setting where value is added through material transformation at each step as a product moves from raw material to finished goods. Customers monetize this value by the purchase of products they anticipate will add value to their processes. Value-add also pertains to certain services, like financial and legal, that require a certified, licensed, or bonded provider that possesses or delivers specialized skills or knowledge. The consequence for not utilizing these services is the customer assumes risk. The concept of value-add also plays a role in information technology and data services. Here, though, the meaning is vague....Strategic FramingSteve Bosserman2007-07-12T20:09:10+00:00A Broader Framework in Which Localization Occurs
http://www.newmediaexplorer.org/steve_bosserman/2007/07/10/a_broader_framework_in_which_localization_occurs.htm
One of the drivers behind technology development is the quest for human equivalence —the point where technology performs at a level of functioning that is equal to or greater than the functioning of the human brain. While it is speculative at best to estimate if and when such a goal is achieved, recent history illustrates that the increase in capability and capacity of technology is ramping up a rather steep slope. And if we are to trust the application of Moore's law, technology's prowess is doubling every 18-24 months. At that rate, it doesn't take much to project a future wherein technology is closing in on human equivalence. As a...Human EquivalenceSteve Bosserman2007-07-10T22:22:49+00:00A Voice for Localization
http://www.newmediaexplorer.org/steve_bosserman/2007/07/08/a_voice_for_localization.htm
In response to my earlier posting about Localization, Bob Banner, publisher / editor of Hope Dance Magazine sent me an email noting that Julian Darley was the founder and director of the Post Carbon Institute. While James Howard Kunstler is an Institute Fellow, he has his own website that covers a wide range of related topics. Please note that my 6 July posting is now updated to reflect this correction. Bob also mentioned in his email that Issue 62 of Hope Dance Magazine is "...a special issue we did on RELOCALIZATION that features BALLE, Judy Wicks, the PCI, Michael Shuman's Small-Marts, Local Living Economies, Bill McKibben, many book ad film...Human EquivalenceSteve Bosserman2007-07-08T15:08:09+00:00The Case for Localization
http://www.newmediaexplorer.org/steve_bosserman/2007/07/06/the_case_for_localization.htm
Over the past five months I have dedicated considerable attention to "localization." According to Wikipedia, "Localization may describe production of goods nearer to end users to reduce environmental and other external costs of globalization." The Relocalization Network, which is affiliated with Julian Darley's Post Carbon Institute defines "relocalization" as "…a strategy to build societies based on the local production of food, energy and goods, and the local development of currency, governance and culture. The main goals of Relocalization are to increase community energy security, to strengthen local economies, and to dramatically improve environmental conditions and social equity." Another way to consider localization is to see it as the shrinkage of...Human EquivalenceSteve Bosserman2007-07-06T13:44:25+00:00Boids, Integrated Structures, and Renewable Energy
http://www.newmediaexplorer.org/steve_bosserman/2007/02/12/boids_integrated_structures_and_renewable_energy.htm
About 20 years ago, Craig Reynolds, developed an artificial life program entitled, Boids, that simulates the flocking patterns of birds. One of the compelling features of Boids is that despite random starting points and infinite range of action enjoyed by each boid, through adherence to three simple rules a consistent behavior pattern among the boids is quickly established and maintained. Boids exemplifies a principle in complex adaptive systems termed "emergence." Emergence is a key concept in organization design. It has particular relevance when the issues of control, dependence, and autonomy in centralized and decentralized structures are recast into integrated structures such as networks, communities, and teams. My previous posting, "Lessons...Organization DesignSteve Bosserman2007-02-12T03:38:43+00:00Lessons from the Grid
http://www.newmediaexplorer.org/steve_bosserman/2007/02/07/lessons_from_the_grid.htm
The electrical power grid is a study in organizational behavior. Take how electricity is generated and distributed to the point of consumption. Huge power plants or arrays—fueled by "green energy" sources such as solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, and hydroelectric, or "brown energy" sources such as fossil fuels and nuclear—concentrate electrical power generation to take advantage of "economies of scale." The resulting current is transmitted through an extensive redundancy of power lines, cables, substations, circuit breakers, switches and transformers—oftentimes referred to as the "power grid" —to individual consumers across wide areas. Organizationally, this is a centralized model. Power is concentrated in a select number of locations and authority is distributed to...Organization DesignSteve Bosserman2007-02-07T00:18:00+00:00Distribution Channels for Agriculture Equipment Systems in India
http://www.newmediaexplorer.org/steve_bosserman/2007/02/03/distribution_channels_for_agriculture_equipment_systems_in_india.htm
Overview The long run of substantial growth in the Indian economy since liberalization in 1991 spread opportunities for business expansion and entrepreneurial start-ups in all commercial sectors, including agriculture. During the past decade and a half, noticeable gains in the purchasing power occurred for some Indian farmers. Their economic circumstances improved through the expansion and strengthening of infrastructure, rapid farm consolidation to take advantage of economies of scale, adoption of genetically modified cropping, and utilization of more productive agriculture equipment systems. However, there are 700 million farmers in India—the second largest block in the world behind China—and clearly, not all enjoyed the same level of benefit from the blistering economy...Social AgricultureSteve Bosserman2007-02-03T21:27:25+00:00Agriculture Megatrends: Ten Trends Redefining the Practice of Agriculture in the World
http://www.newmediaexplorer.org/steve_bosserman/2007/02/01/agriculture_megatrends_ten_trends_redefining_the_practice_of_agriculture_in_the_world.htm
When I was growing up in south central Kansas, agriculture was a way of life—it was all around us in the form of wheat fields, cattle ranches, pastures, and gardens. Agriculture has had enormous economic significance throughout the history of Kansas, first, as a territory then a state. And it continues to be an important factor in shaping Kansas' future. However, changing conditions over the past 60 years transformed the practice and scope of agriculture in Kansas: myriad family farms vanished through improved mechanization and consolidation of farming operations, absentee ownership of farms increased as farming businesses incorporated and adopted professional management in an effort to be competitive in a...Social AgricultureSteve Bosserman2007-02-01T03:04:04+00:00Value Propositions
http://www.newmediaexplorer.org/steve_bosserman/2007/01/30/value_propositions.htm
As January draws to a close I look back on a busy month of travel that took me to three continents and visits to a wide range of clients in both the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors. A common theme no matter what type of organization is value for time, energy, and resources spent. We want more value in each of our transactions. As a result, regardless of how the metrics of time, energy, and resources are defined, they represent the ways in which comparisons between alternatives are drawn, distinctions and differentiations of one to another are determined, and ultimately, decisions to choose are made based on which alternative offers the...Organization DesignSteve Bosserman2007-01-30T19:30:22+00:00Food Systems and Distances Traveled
http://www.newmediaexplorer.org/steve_bosserman/2007/01/02/food_systems_and_distances_traveled.htm
Food is an essential requirement for life. A certain degree of psychological preoccupation is prompted if there are risks associated with getting the need for food met. As a result, securing food is one of the fundamental building blocks in Abraham Maslow's "hierarchy of needs." Distance from the source of food is a sticky wicket for food consumers. We are left in the hands of government regulations, enforcement agencies, businesses, and various special interest groups in between us and the food we need for survival, health, and well-being. Questions range from plant and animal genetics to methods of production, processing, and preparing foods, to the logistical systems that transport, store,...Social AgricultureSteve Bosserman2007-01-02T01:49:37+00:00Oil Addiction and the Business Case for Change
http://www.newmediaexplorer.org/steve_bosserman/2006/12/29/oil_addiction_and_the_business_case_for_change.htm
One responsibility that comes from communicating with readers through media such as blogs is to define terms as they are going to be used in various postings and follow-up by consistent usage of those terms according to their stated definitions. In this instance, three terms are offered for consideration in this and related postings about business opportunities: business case, business model, and business plan. Wikipedia defines "business case" in the context of an existing business wherein certain changes are being considered. While this is certainly a useful construct in project management practices, it need not be limited solely to that purview. It is also a valuable tool for entrepreneurs to...Strategic FramingSteve Bosserman2006-12-29T22:31:36+00:00