Social networks and disruptive innovation
I read today a post from Ismael Peña i his blog ICTLogy where he makes a summary of the conclusions of a working group on Netweoking cooperation and have posted my comment to it, which I’ve decided to post here too:
Networks are a very common in humans evolution. Networks constitute the way we shape our thoughts in our brain, and social networks are the structure in which we create culture and share knowledge. Social networks need Social Capital to become more productive and increase knowledge.
Like human capital or physical capital, social capital, that is based on the relations of the members in a network, is essential for creating knowledge. Cohesion inside the network must co-exist with bridging, that’s relation outside the network, with other networks.
The Internet makes this kind of Social capital more feasible because members in a network can be spread over the planet and thus belong to other networks.
The reasons why people join a network are based on benefit. We shouldn’t forget that social capital is a concept based on an economical view. People are ready to strengthen their links if they see a possible benefit in two possible senses: first, to gain status or comfort (earn money, make business,etc.) and second, to keep the present status or comfort (Nan Lin, 2001).
Finally, the idea that Social Networks help to bring “disruptive creation” was introduced in 1995 by Clayton M. Christensen who first introduced the disruptive technologies. He classified them in two types: the lower end: for new market niches not considered before, and the lower end: for non existing markets. The web 2.0 was a disruptive technology or a disruptive innovation for lower end. Most of the ITC creations we are discovering in these years are lower end disruptive innovations and that’s why we always get impressed and have to change and learn so quickly. Social Networks make this transition easier by getting the support of the members and learning collectively.
Humans are network animals.
