Independent Individuals and Wise Crowds

Hi everyone! Today's selection is a podcast from IT Conversations, with a fascinating presentation by author and New Yorker columnist James Surowiecki. This podcast was recorded at the O'Reilly Emerging Technology Conference on 16 March 2005 and posted to the web at:

http://www.itconversations.com/shows/detail468.html

The show notes for this podcast included:

"In technophile circles, the idea that networks and network effects will inherently provide for better decision making is an understood, a truism widely agreed. Author and New Yorker columnist James Surowiecki, argues that while there are many benefits to aggregate decision making, there are several perils and misbehavior that individuals and observers would be wise to take into account."

"Surowiecki provides several 'food for thought' points by which actors can make better decisions by maintaining weak rather than strong ties with other group members and by tuning into a cacophony of contrary opinions rather than the self-reinforcing common opinions of a small group."

Best regards,

Burks

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Technorati Tags: IT Conversations, James Surowiecki, group dynamics, networks, podcast

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