Online Organizations

The Internet is depressing

  • Cyberbullying
  • Harassment
  • Radicalization

But it’s also the site of collaboration and generosity

Reasons I think collaborative online organizations are exciting

They are large-scale public goods

  • Non-excludable
  • Non-rivalrous

Why do people contribute?

They are a new form of organizing

  • No formal hierarchy or roles
  • No markets
  • No face-to-face contact
  • Cheap to create, join, and leave

How do people know what needs to be done?

What kind of organizations can’t exist as online organizations?

They are ecosystems

How do people choose what to contribute to?

How do organizations compete with each other?

There is so. much. data.

  • Individual contributions
  • Within organizations
  • Across organizations

The Big Question

How can we encourage more cooperation?