Permanently Beta: Responsive Organization in the Internet Era

TLDR

Many scholars examine Internet influence by focusing on productivity gains from technological advances or the roles of dot‑coms and other Internet‑based organizations in the economy. The study seeks to understand how Internet‑era technological change shapes the organization of economic activities. The authors analyze the co‑evolution of emerging information technologies and organizational forms, focusing on user‑driven design of online media and off‑line products, and propose ways to mitigate social costs. © 2002, Gina Neff and David Stark, Columbia University.

Abstract

How has the Internet influenced economic organization? Many approach this question strictly economically by examining the productivity gains from particular technological advances or the roles that dot-coms and other Internet-based organizations play with the economy. We approach this question differently—we move away from a macro-social analysis to consider the co-evolution of new technologies and organizational forms. In other words, how has the process of technological change in the Internet era influenced the way we organize economic activities? In this chapter we discuss how information technologies foster the emergent design and user-driven design of websites and other online media, as well as products and organizations off-line. We also consider how to mitigate the social costs of these changes. Permanently Beta Page 1  Gina Neff and David Stark, 2002 Permanently Beta: Responsive Organization in the Internet Era Gina Neff and David Stark Columbia University