Comments on: West by Southwest http://www.socialtext.com/blog/2008/08/west-by-southwest/ Weblog on gaining business results from social software. Fri, 20 Jan 2012 17:36:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Michael Idinopulos http://www.socialtext.com/blog/2008/08/west-by-southwest/comment-page-1/#comment-295 Michael Idinopulos Mon, 25 Aug 2008 19:03:11 +0000 http://www.socialtext.com/wp-blog/2008/08/west-by-southwest/#comment-295 <p>David, you're right that the Southwest process sometimes breaks down, just as Enterprise 2.0 collaboration sometimes breaks down. But these processes don't have to be perfect; they just have to be enough of an improvement over the the structured process they replace that it's worth making the switch. By that standard, both Southwest and Enterprise 2.0 come out on top.</p> David, you’re right that the Southwest process sometimes breaks down, just as Enterprise 2.0 collaboration sometimes breaks down. But these processes don’t have to be perfect; they just have to be enough of an improvement over the the structured process they replace that it’s worth making the switch. By that standard, both Southwest and Enterprise 2.0 come out on top.

]]> By: David http://www.socialtext.com/blog/2008/08/west-by-southwest/comment-page-1/#comment-294 David Mon, 25 Aug 2008 15:01:57 +0000 http://www.socialtext.com/wp-blog/2008/08/west-by-southwest/#comment-294 <p>when Southwest's pick your own seat policy works it's great, but spend enough time on the airline and you'll see it fail. People walk to the back hoping to find a window or aisle and the try to return to the front for a less terrible middle when they come up empty. Chaos ensues. </p> <p>It's similar when previously controlled, bureaucratic environments, like document management, are opened up for more personal choice. When people think about the collective good, it works. When one thinks selfishly it tends to fail. </p> when Southwest’s pick your own seat policy works it’s great, but spend enough time on the airline and you’ll see it fail. People walk to the back hoping to find a window or aisle and the try to return to the front for a less terrible middle when they come up empty. Chaos ensues.

It’s similar when previously controlled, bureaucratic environments, like document management, are opened up for more personal choice. When people think about the collective good, it works. When one thinks selfishly it tends to fail.

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