Thought Leadership
May. 16th, 2018 09:08 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
qatsiBook Review: Machine, Platform, Crowd - Harnessing our Digital Future, by Andrew McAfee and Erik Brynjolfsson
This was a random selection from the work book sale; I hoped it might be interesting without having particularly high expectations. In general the phrase "thought leadership" makes me cringe; there's little I'd like less than being told what to think. However, I did find this a thoughtful and insightful book, offering a management-oriented perspective structured around themes in current and near-future technological innovation.
On the "machine" theme, the authors begin with a history of recent advances in AI and automation, considering what role machines may play in the future, and what that will leave humans to do. This is a bit depressing and challenging, not so much for what it says literally, but more for the sweeping assumption that all of humanity will somehow adjust seamlessly to the continuum of Brave New Worlds. The history of the past fifty years or so suggests to me that innovation frequently leaves a lot of people behind and that at best they struggle to catch up. On the "platform" theme, the authors discuss the distinction between providers of "concrete" products and services, particularly in the "gig economy", and the enabling platforms that are springing up to surround them - such as private hire and Uber, or fast-food outlets and Deliveroo. There are no prizes for guessing where the smart money ends up in this sphere. Finally, the "crowd" theme shows how what is often referred to as democratisation can take power away from established custodians; though the authors are enthusiasts, even they acknowledge the risks of taking decisions away from qualified experts and of mob rule. This section also provides the opportunity for the authors to discuss the trendy topic of cryptocurrencies, and the potential to take control away from states and banks. Throughout there is a little economic theory, but it avoids any complicated mathematics and is always clearly explained.
Comfortingly and conveniently for managers and business people, however, the authors conclude that companies and corporations are not threatened by any of this, arguing that they perform necessary mediating functions in an imperfect market. Futurology is a dangerous game. In places this is a disquieting read, but overall it's a worthwhile one.
This was a random selection from the work book sale; I hoped it might be interesting without having particularly high expectations. In general the phrase "thought leadership" makes me cringe; there's little I'd like less than being told what to think. However, I did find this a thoughtful and insightful book, offering a management-oriented perspective structured around themes in current and near-future technological innovation.
On the "machine" theme, the authors begin with a history of recent advances in AI and automation, considering what role machines may play in the future, and what that will leave humans to do. This is a bit depressing and challenging, not so much for what it says literally, but more for the sweeping assumption that all of humanity will somehow adjust seamlessly to the continuum of Brave New Worlds. The history of the past fifty years or so suggests to me that innovation frequently leaves a lot of people behind and that at best they struggle to catch up. On the "platform" theme, the authors discuss the distinction between providers of "concrete" products and services, particularly in the "gig economy", and the enabling platforms that are springing up to surround them - such as private hire and Uber, or fast-food outlets and Deliveroo. There are no prizes for guessing where the smart money ends up in this sphere. Finally, the "crowd" theme shows how what is often referred to as democratisation can take power away from established custodians; though the authors are enthusiasts, even they acknowledge the risks of taking decisions away from qualified experts and of mob rule. This section also provides the opportunity for the authors to discuss the trendy topic of cryptocurrencies, and the potential to take control away from states and banks. Throughout there is a little economic theory, but it avoids any complicated mathematics and is always clearly explained.
Comfortingly and conveniently for managers and business people, however, the authors conclude that companies and corporations are not threatened by any of this, arguing that they perform necessary mediating functions in an imperfect market. Futurology is a dangerous game. In places this is a disquieting read, but overall it's a worthwhile one.