How do we value collectively created knowledge? [FULL]
Hacking Academia [2 of 3]
Hacking Working Together [3 of 3]
Hacking Academia [2 of 3]
Hacking Working Together [3 of 3]
On this month's blogging sprint*, I am experimenting with a new strategy that plays with an idea we explored in the Macroscope Labs project. On each post, I include a Thought Contributors** an acknowledgment that lists people with whom I have discussed this idea as it was evolving.
*Thought Contributors: These ideas have been percolating and evolved in conversations with many people. I am prototyping a new method of attributing collectively crafted ideas. In academia, whoever writes the grant or publishes the paper gets "credit" but in reality the breakthrough idea may come from a colleague in the work-in-progress phase or comments on a draft. It's time that we begin to develop better systems that reflect and honor the collective participation in the formulation of ideas. Those I mention here are people who have informed, influenced and participated in the evolution of ideas herein. I am grateful for their perspectives which have helped to enhance my thinking on these issues. I'll be curious for feedback whether that works and seems sufficient, insufficient, confusing, overwhelming.
How one chooses to see the source of ideas and how one chooses to attribute will be subjective. Some of the justifications for less/no** attribution: many ideas are emerging at the same time. There are no new ideas. With information everywhere it is nearly impossible to keep track of all the sources of input and influence. We are all part of a global brain, there is no "I". While I am not attached to the ideas that I have, I endeavor to practice attribution holistically and rigorously (partially attributed to residual side effect of legal training) though mostly due to my aim that any recognition flows back to original sources and influencers as much as possible; I see attribution as essential to integrity in a system because it honors the depth and breadth of others' contributions to the value that I create.
What do you do to acknowledge the influencers in your work?
What have you seen others do that inspired you?
*Thought Contributors: Edward Harran, Jay Standish, Jerry Michaelski, Arthur Brock , Eric Harris Braun, pls ping me if I missed you! This topic jumped to the front of the loopback queue due to a tag on a FB thread that semi-relates to this topic.
**modified 3.7.2012 from less rigorous to less/no to better reflect intended meaning which was not a judgment rather the degree/amount of references to sources.
***March blogging sprint: #b03 Day 4: I am participating in a pledge to blog daily during March initiated by Steve Hopkins of the Squiggly Line blog. Follow the daily work of all participants on twitter under #b03
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