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There
is no doubt that modern society is in a transitional period.
Change no longer waits on the distant horizon; it is rapidly
entering our offices and homes.
Innovations
in technology lead as the most popular symbol of the new
age. Information is a close second. But technology alone
is merely a tool, and information must be applied. Taken
alone, a revolution they do not make. Combining them appropriately
is a step towards the future.
Perhaps
social scientists and historians of the future will succinctly
detail the key elements that powered our transition. Meanwhile,
there are recognizable patterns, a semaphore from the future,
signaling what I refer to as "The Reciprocal Economy."
A Reciprocal Economy replaces a scarcity economy. Granted,
there is still significant material lack an inequity globally.
But for the first time in history, the immediate future
offers the prospect of managing our resources intelligently,
equitably, and with minimal environmental impact. Just as
the agrarian economy was replaced by the industrial age,
the Reciprocal Economy increases the value of material goods,
and facilitates access to them, while requiring less to
create them.
A Reciprocal Economy is a future of shared values and outcomes.
While allowing cultural and individual diversity, the future
encourages, and rewards mutuality. A world vision is emerging
that transcends geopolitical constructs and the constraints
of space and time. Cluster groups without traditional tribal
boundaries will share outcomes working together. In a Reciprocal
Economy, communities are formed based on common interests
and goals, but the members of these communities may never
meet face-to-face.
As governments in a Reciprocal Economy become less effective,
they transition to facilitators. Global alliance-based businesses
and organizations effect change where governments once did.
Organizations and businesses create competitive alliances.
Monopoly in a Reciprocal Economy is viewed as a liability
and is not tolerated.
In a Reciprocal Economy individual responsibility is recognized
as the most important asset to possess. Not only is it imperative
to take personal responsibility seriously, technology now
creates greater access to the information and tools to create
one’s own future. Accepting the fact that our tomorrow will
be totally different than we can imagine is a good place
to start. But imagine we must, because imagination is the
key tool of innovation. It is therefore an asset to active
participators in the new economy.
Connectivity
is the underlying theme that allows for the evolution of
intelligence, creating multidimensional, non-linear thinking.
In the Age of Reciprocity, connectivity transcends modems
and computer screens. The Internet is just the spark that
ignites the fire. In similar fashion the way that hypertext
encourages tangential discovery, connectivity creates greater
opportunity for new outcomes.
New
outcomes create greater opportunity for increased connectivity.
And the cycle continues. Reciprocity achieved.
The
future is ours to create, more so now than at any other
time in history.
This
article originally appeared as: "The Reciprocal Economy"
in the October 1998 issue of Business 2.0
Copyright
© 1999 Richard Barksdale (http://www.ascens.com)
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