Collaboration is the process by which a set of diverse resources work together to achieve a common goal.
Collaboratin can create immense benefits, due to its network effects. (see below)
Unlocking the Power of a Network
The power of a network to create massive value comes from the way the number of possible connections between
nodes on a network grows exponentially even as the number of nodes goes up linearly.
That is, when you have only
two nodes, you can have only one (two way) connection. When you have three nodes, you can have 3 connections.
The number of connections goes up by two. When you go to four nodes, you can have 6 connections, i.e. a difference
of 3 connections now. Each additional node
adds the possibility for an ever increasing number of connections.
The network below demonstrates this basic effect. Click "add" to add additional
nodes to the network and see how number of connections grows.
Big Picture
When adding resources (nodes) to a network, the exponential value comes from the connections. The above describes the
number of possible connections, but, if the connections are not made (or are weak), full value is not achieved.
To
achieve value in a network then, care must be taken to create an environment where connections can easily be made and utilized.
The more the better. Barriers or other difficulites in forming connections will cause the network to achieve sub optimal value.
Pluggability
The goal of collaborative computing is the acheivement of easy pluggability between resources on a network
in order to enable all the possible connections. A resource
could be an employee, it could be machine or server, or it could even be a snippet of code.
Rice Board
Ibn Khallikan first described the power of the exponential using the example of
wheat on a chessboard. The example shows how abundance can
be achieved through exponential growth.
Category Theory
Within mathematics, the theory that most accurately describes pluggability is
category theory.
An abstract
and difficult subject, it is a foundational pillar of modern computer science.
Ibn Khallikan first described the power of the exponential using the example of
wheat on a chessboard. The example shows how abundance can
be achieved through exponential growth.