Hierarchy to Networks - A Change in Government?

As mentioned in the lecture there has been a movement in the workplace and life in general to a more networked system of connection from the traditional hierarchy. From the behemoth that was IBM to the now giant Google.

The economy has followed this shift, although not as dramatically as some might suggest, from industrial production to the knowledge production (. This new "Knowledge Economy" (Pol and Carroll 2007, p3) is based around the use of knowledge as both an input and output. What companies are best equipped to thrive in such an economy? One with a very quick feedback cycle.

The OODA loop shows the steps before an action can be (or should be) taken. With the example of World War 1, Ted showed how when this loop takes longer to go through the outcomes becomes less positive. Hence why companies now have very quick communication between members and have shifted from hierarchies to networks of individuals. Although this may be seen as a problem in some respects, it does pose the question, why hasn't government changed?

Granted the government now has to deal with issues such as twitter and they have their own twitter page and facebook page etc...but the government itself has hardly shifted at all. It is obvious to most if not all that for years if not decades, the people have felt the government is out of touch with its people. What better way to get in touch again then by integrating them into a network? I'm not suggesting we become some socialistic utopian dreamland where everyone is equal, merely stating that the hierarchy in place by which the government stands is at its core doomed to stay out of touch with the people. Should they not opt to change a flawed system? Many would say that the system now is unchangeable, that it is the best we can do, but the same was said about previous companies. They were untouchable giants (IBM), which were eventually killed off by disruptive innovations (Pol and Carroll 2007, p17). Perhaps the government will one day face the same fate?

Anonymous 2010 'How you can Opt for Ethical Search engine optimisation programs', weblog post, Webfolio Concepts, August 25, accessed 18/8/2011 http://blog.webfolioconcepts.com/2010/08/25/how-you-can-opt-for-ethical-search-engine-optimisation-programs/

Pol, E. and Carroll, P. 2007, 'New Economy', in An Introduction to the Creative Economy, McGraw Hill, NSW, North Ryde.

Mitew, T 2011, Global Media Busniesses and Immaterial Production, DIGC202, Global Networks, University of Wollongong, delivered 15 August.