Web 2.0: It‘s People

Web 2.0: It‘s PeopleLuis Suarez(KM Specialist, IBM) Posted 8/9/2006
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If you are into the hype around Web 2.0 I am sure that by now youhave probably been watching the video clip thatMichael Arrington put together along with a number of CEOs and startup executives in order to share their opinions and further thoughts about what Web 2.0 is all about and the like. In a 24 minute clip, fully packed with insightful comments, Michael manages to get some interesting and thought provoking remarks from a good bunch of folks who do have got something to say about Web 2.0 and social software. And just because of that I think it is worth while watching and listening to what they have got to say.
You will see how plenty of people have already beencommenting on the topic in Techcrunch‘s weblog post, with plenty of both positive and negative feedback. Same goes forTechMeme where I have been enjoying both the reviews fromRichard MacManus over atRead/WriteWeb andDion Hinchcliffe over at hisWeb 2.0 Blog. Worth while a read, too. However, what I really like about the video documentary itself is the fact that those folks seem to have a very clear idea as to where we might be heading with this Web 2.0 hyped concept. So much so that if I were to just describe in a couple of words what it would all be about I would just single out the first few words from David Sifry fromTechnorati where he mentioned:
"Web 2.0: It‘s People"
 
As simple as that. Nothing more, nothing less. I still don‘t get this obsession that plenty of people seem to be having about figuring out a business model for all this Web 2.0. Why would we need to focus on finding such business model when there isn‘t a need for it. Ihave mentioned this already in the past but still after watching the video and reading through the comments lots of people fail to see beyond the immediate effects of finding a business model. Web 2.0 is already a business model, folks! Whether we like it or not. The fact that all this social software is allowing people, i.e. consumers, produce, publish, share content (And their knowledge with others) and collaborate much closer than ever before, that on itself is going to reflect on whatever other business models you may be working on out there at the moment.
Indeed, Web 2.0 is all about the people, about joining the conversations, about opening up to the rest of the world or just to whatever your area of expertise may be, and share it with everyone. And this is where, to me, the business model kicks in: the Knowledge Management business model, because that is actually what social software is influencing right now in huge proportions. Lots of people having been indicating how KM is going through another refreshing comeback. Everyone is talking about it. Everyone wants to know more. Everyone wants to see it at their companies but what is the main fundamental key aspect that is bringing it up into the spotlight. Yes, indeed, spot on!Web 2.0. I very much doubt that knowledge workers would have been as excited as they may be right now without that social software hype going on now.
Thanks to it, people, knowledge workers, are more willing to get out there, share what they know in whatever the social media, i.e. blogs, wikis, social bookmarks, tagging, podcasts, web syndication, etc. etc. and engage in the conversations with everyone else. Never before was there such excitement about wanting to share, to publish what you know without any further user intervention other than your own. This is why for sure Web 2.0 does no need a business model as far as I am concerned. It already is and the fact that whole bunch of CEOs agrees to some extent with it is a good thing. Hopefully, more and more people will stop figuring out about the business models and move on to the next level: integrating Web 2.0 with the already existing business models. That, to me, is where the real challenge is and where I see that Knowledge Management is going to play a huge role in any single business out there, and their business models, which may want to transition from a labour-based model to a knowledge-based model, because after all "Knowledge Shared Is Power" and that is exactly what Web 2.0 is all about.
Ohhh, and in case you are wondering, what browser do I use?Flock, of course!
Update:While catching up with my RSS newsfeeds yesterday. I actually bumped intoRobin Good‘s take onWeb 2.0 Video Documentary Remix: The Sharewood View and all I can say is that if you were a bit skeptic about the overall video in itself you can just get to check his three minute cut edition where you can get to see some of the best bits and pieces of the overall piece. Highly recommended, as usual, all of the work from Robin, but this piece in particular, specially since over atWeb 2.0 Video Documentary Remix: The Sharewood View he has provided the transcripts of the conversations so that you can read along while watching the video. Very nice ! Here is the link to the video, just in case you may want to watch it right here:
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