Creating a Path of Least Resistance Towards a Better World

Creating a Creating a Path of Least Resistance Path of Least Resistance Towards a Better WorldTowards a Better World

Stanford Digital Visions ProgramStanford Digital Visions ProgramSept 19, 2002Sept 19, 2002Tom MunneckeTom Munnecke

[email protected]@stanford.edu (858) 756 4218(858) 756 4218

http://www.munnecke.com/papers/DVsem1.htmhttp://www.munnecke.com/papers/DVsem1.htm

mailto:[email protected]

Stanford Digital Visions Program SepStanford Digital Visions Program Sep. 19, 2002. 19, 2002

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Tim Berners-Lee:Tim Berners-Lee:

What was often difficult for people to What was often difficult for people to understand about the design [of the Web] understand about the design [of the Web] was that there was nothing else beyond was that there was nothing else beyond URIs [URLs], HTTP, and HTML. There was URIs [URLs], HTTP, and HTML. There was no central computer “controlling” the web, no central computer “controlling” the web, no single network on which these protocols no single network on which these protocols worked, not even an organization anywhere worked, not even an organization anywhere that “ran” the Web. The web was not a that “ran” the Web. The web was not a physical “thing” that existed in a certain physical “thing” that existed in a certain “place.” “place.” It was a “space” in which It was a “space” in which information could exist”information could exist”


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Many ImplicationsMany Implications

• Evolutionary impact of simple initial conditionsEvolutionary impact of simple initial conditions• The value of a rich environment on which to growThe value of a rich environment on which to grow• His authority was that he had no authorityHis authority was that he had no authority• He did not try to organize the webHe did not try to organize the web• He did not put himself at center of the webHe did not put himself at center of the web• ““Order for free” can emerge from appropriate Order for free” can emerge from appropriate

scale and connectivityscale and connectivity• Constraints made it open (IP instead of AOL)Constraints made it open (IP instead of AOL)• Did not try to integrate “stakeholders”Did not try to integrate “stakeholders”

– But rather created a space in which all benefited by joiningBut rather created a space in which all benefited by joining

Evolution of the WebEvolution of the Web

URL HTTP HTML

Internet Protocol is a Constraint

Fitness Function is Consumer Attention

IP

IP

Yahoo

e-Bay

Excite

Simple Initial Conditions


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Jonas Salk:Jonas Salk:

• Only a few are needed to visualize Only a few are needed to visualize and to initiate an and to initiate an epidemic of healthepidemic of health that would become that would become self-organizing, self-organizing, self-propelling, and self-propagatingself-propelling, and self-propagating, , as is characteristic of evolutionary as is characteristic of evolutionary processesprocesses


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Freeman Dyson:Freeman Dyson:

To help the poor from "the top down" is To help the poor from "the top down" is least likely to succeed. The challenge… least likely to succeed. The challenge… is to find ways to help people from the is to find ways to help people from the bottom up…successful "bottom up" bottom up…successful "bottom up" approaches share an important trait: as approaches share an important trait: as they succeed, they spread quickly. This they succeed, they spread quickly. This is is "autocatalysis" -a key virtue to look "autocatalysis" -a key virtue to look for in any technology that claims to for in any technology that claims to improve human welfare on a large improve human welfare on a large scale.scale.


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We We areare trying… trying…

• 1.4 million non-profit organizations in US alone1.4 million non-profit organizations in US alone

• $1 trillion in aid from developed countries over $1 trillion in aid from developed countries over past 50 years past 50 years

• 15,000 NGOs active in Egypt, 30,000 in Morocco15,000 NGOs active in Egypt, 30,000 in Morocco

• Over 30,000 world problems catalogued with Over 30,000 world problems catalogued with more than 150,000 relationships between them more than 150,000 relationships between them

SourcesSources: : Chronicle of Philanthropy, Sep. 5, 2002; Easterly, William, The Elusive Quest for Growth, Economists’ Chronicle of Philanthropy, Sep. 5, 2002; Easterly, William, The Elusive Quest for Growth, Economists’ Adventures and Misadventures in the TropicsAdventures and Misadventures in the Tropics,, MIT Press, 2001, p. 35; The Encyclopedia of World Problems MIT Press, 2001, p. 35; The Encyclopedia of World Problems http://www.uia.org/homepro.htmhttp://www.uia.org/homepro.htm


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What Happened after 9/11:What Happened after 9/11:

• Outburst of activity:Outburst of activity:– 175,000 volunteers from 50 states worked in New York, 175,000 volunteers from 50 states worked in New York,

Washington, PennsylvaniaWashington, Pennsylvania– $2.3 Billion in donations$2.3 Billion in donations

• But the net effect was:But the net effect was:– Americans expressing “lots of confidence” in charities had fallen to Americans expressing “lots of confidence” in charities had fallen to

18 percent. (May, 2002)18 percent. (May, 2002)– 42% of Americans said that they had less confidence in charities 42% of Americans said that they had less confidence in charities

now than they did before.now than they did before.– Those who express “a lot of support” for federated fund-raising Those who express “a lot of support” for federated fund-raising

campaigns fell from 39% in July 2001 to 26% in December, 2001. campaigns fell from 39% in July 2001 to 26% in December, 2001. Source: Chronicle of Philanthropy, Sep. 5, 2002Source: Chronicle of Philanthropy, Sep. 5, 2002

Acts of generosity and compassion should fuel more of the Acts of generosity and compassion should fuel more of the same.same.


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Creating a Path of Least Creating a Path of Least ResistanceResistance• Rather than Rather than creating systemscreating systems to to fight problemsfight problems::

– Adding rules and restrictions,Adding rules and restrictions,– Creating organizations whose growth is linked to the Creating organizations whose growth is linked to the

problem, andproblem, and– Creating perverse incentives;Creating perverse incentives;

• Let’s Let’s create a spacecreate a space which will which will generate generate solutionssolutions: : – Discover and amplify where “virtue is afoot,”Discover and amplify where “virtue is afoot,”– Discover and replicate success, andDiscover and replicate success, and– Create positive incentives.Create positive incentives.

• Many new opportunities for thinking this way:Many new opportunities for thinking this way:


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OpportunitiesOpportunities

1.1. TrustraisingTrustraising

2.2. Appreciating AppreciationAppreciating Appreciation

3.3. On-Line CommunitiesOn-Line Communities

4.4. Network Effects of Transformational Network Effects of Transformational EnergyEnergy

5.5. Complementary CurrencyComplementary Currency

6.6. Micro PhilanthropyMicro Philanthropy


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1. Trustraising1. Trustraising

““A nation’s well-being…is conditioned by a single, A nation’s well-being…is conditioned by a single, pervasive cultural characteristic: the level of trust pervasive cultural characteristic: the level of trust inherent in a society” inherent in a society” Francis FukuyamaFrancis Fukuyama

• Trustraising applies to organizations, people, patterns, Trustraising applies to organizations, people, patterns, communities, knowledgecommunities, knowledge

• Aligns incentives by shifting focus from Aligns incentives by shifting focus from fundraisingfundraising to to trustraisingtrustraising

• Organizations succeed by Organizations succeed by showingshowing rather than rather than tellingtelling• Participants in a chain of trust know their reputation is Participants in a chain of trust know their reputation is

being observed by others, creating a web of trustbeing observed by others, creating a web of trust• Greater inclusiveness and scale improves quality of Greater inclusiveness and scale improves quality of

trusttrust• See Jan Hauser’s presentation at AsilomarSee Jan Hauser’s presentation at Asilomar


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2. Appreciating Appreciation2. Appreciating Appreciation

• ““Adopt a Highway” vs. “Don’t Litter”Adopt a Highway” vs. “Don’t Litter”• ““So many strengths, so little appreciation,” So many strengths, so little appreciation,”

instead of “So many problems, so little instead of “So many problems, so little money.”money.”

• Cynicism sellsCynicism sells• MediaMedia: Shark attacks, kidnappings, road rage: Shark attacks, kidnappings, road rage• DevelopmentDevelopment: Fighting a problem values becoming a : Fighting a problem values becoming a

victim victim

• Appreciative InquiryAppreciative Inquiry• Finding where “virtue is afoot”Finding where “virtue is afoot”• How to flip vicious circles to virtuous circles?How to flip vicious circles to virtuous circles?


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3. Communities of 3. Communities of TransformationTransformation

• Defined by purposeDefined by purpose

• Link communities to specific transformational Link communities to specific transformational activitiesactivities

• Enable pattern language for transformationEnable pattern language for transformation

• Knowledge managementKnowledge management

• Augmenting collective IQAugmenting collective IQ

• Highly scalableHighly scalable

• Syndication of information via markup Syndication of information via markup languagelanguage


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The Transactional FallacyThe Transactional Fallacy

Sum of Tobacco Transactions

GDP

Transactional Analysis:Sell more tobbaco and treat more lung cancer

Transformational view:Smoke tobacco and get lungcancer

$$

PersonalView

Sum of Lung Cancer Treatments

Person buystobacco

Person getstreated for lung cancer


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Transformational EnergyTransformational Energy

• BidirectionalBidirectional• MutualMutual• Personal/community basedPersonal/community based• ““Joy of Giving”Joy of Giving”• Not based on religion, but common Not based on religion, but common

foundation to allfoundation to all• Philanthropy means “love of humanity” Philanthropy means “love of humanity”

not just “rich people giving to poor”not just “rich people giving to poor”


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4. Network Effects of 4. Network Effects of Transformational EnergyTransformational Energy

• Law of increasing returnsLaw of increasing returns

• Based on intrinsics of generosity, Based on intrinsics of generosity, mutuality, community, trust, as well mutuality, community, trust, as well as self interestas self interest

• ““Order for free”Order for free”

• Community happensCommunity happens

• Global connectivity Global connectivity


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5. Complementary Currency5. Complementary Currency

““Imagine the Martian [seeing poverty] Imagine the Martian [seeing poverty] asking us to explain what is that strange asking us to explain what is that strange 'money' thing we seem to be waiting for. 'money' thing we seem to be waiting for. Could you tell him with a straight face that Could you tell him with a straight face that we are waiting for an 'agreement within a we are waiting for an 'agreement within a community to use something as a medium community to use something as a medium of exchange'? And keep waiting?of exchange'? And keep waiting?

Source: Lietaer, Bernard, The Future of Money, A new way to Source: Lietaer, Bernard, The Future of Money, A new way to create wealth, work, and a wiser world, Century – London, 2001, create wealth, work, and a wiser world, Century – London, 2001, p.146p.146


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Why Not a Complementary Why Not a Complementary Currency for Philanthropy?Currency for Philanthropy?

• ““Frequent flier” program for helpers, doers, Frequent flier” program for helpers, doers, and trusteesand trustees

• Money as enabler, rather than motivatorMoney as enabler, rather than motivator• Links “micro” and “macro” philanthropyLinks “micro” and “macro” philanthropy• Currency is designed for transformationCurrency is designed for transformation• Lowers friction for small scale, global Lowers friction for small scale, global

activitiesactivities• Links trustworthiness and currencyLinks trustworthiness and currency• Serves as “glue” for widely distributed, Serves as “glue” for widely distributed,

autonomous, bottom up activitiesautonomous, bottom up activities


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6. Micro Philanthropy6. Micro Philanthropy

“Give aSmile”(free)

UN HIV/AIDS Program$10 billionDecreasing Characteristic Scale

Agg

rega

te t

rans

form

atio

nal e

nerg

y Tipping point: lots of small scale,

self-generated interaction

Larger donations,

institutional efforts

Web of Trust

ComplementaryCurrency

This is what triggers the avalanche

Evolution of a Space for Evolution of a Space for TransformationTransformation

Identity Connection PML

Trust is a Constraint

Fitness Function is transformational energy

Trus

t Trust

???

???

???

Simple Initial Conditions


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Key ConceptsKey Concepts

• Building blocks are transformations, not Building blocks are transformations, not transactionstransactions

• Network of trust: Helpers, Trustees, DoersNetwork of trust: Helpers, Trustees, Doers• Communities of transformationCommunities of transformation• Patterns of transformationPatterns of transformation• Trustraising, reputation managementTrustraising, reputation management• Scalable and openScalable and open• Connectivity itself is transformingConnectivity itself is transforming• Start simply, let success drive evolutionStart simply, let success drive evolution


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Where Do We Go From Where Do We Go From Here? Here? (5:00 pm technical meeting)(5:00 pm technical meeting)• Philanthropic Markup LanguagePhilanthropic Markup Language

• Defines the “linguistic shell” of the space – must be appreciativeDefines the “linguistic shell” of the space – must be appreciative

• Networks of Trust Networks of Trust • Long term vision with workable short term version?Long term vision with workable short term version?

• Appreciative media linksAppreciative media links• Link media coverage of events to positive, transformational Link media coverage of events to positive, transformational

communitiescommunities

• Continuing the conversation:Continuing the conversation:• Electronic ForumElectronic Forum• Monthly Seminars at StanfordMonthly Seminars at Stanford• Future GivingSpace meetingsFuture GivingSpace meetings

• Case studies in GivingSpace activitiesCase studies in GivingSpace activities• Topic for closing session on TuesdayTopic for closing session on Tuesday

• Create a path of least resistanceCreate a path of least resistance• And…And…


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Thank You for Supporting Thank You for Supporting Asilomar MeetingAsilomar Meeting

Cynthia Typaldos, Dan Connolly, David Brin, Dennis Whittle, Cynthia Typaldos, Dan Connolly, David Brin, Dennis Whittle, Eugene Eric Kim, Gautam Patil, Harold Koenig, Heather Eugene Eric Kim, Gautam Patil, Harold Koenig, Heather Wood Ion, Inne ten Have, Jack Park, Jim Fournier, Jan Wood Ion, Inne ten Have, Jack Park, Jim Fournier, Jan

Hauser, Matt Hamilton, Michael Litz, Richard Miles, Paul Hauser, Matt Hamilton, Michael Litz, Richard Miles, Paul Chaffee, Siegfried Woldhek, Suresh Subramanian, Steven Chaffee, Siegfried Woldhek, Suresh Subramanian, Steven

Foster, Tom Munnecke and many other online participants.Foster, Tom Munnecke and many other online participants.

And the Omidyar Foundation:And the Omidyar Foundation:

http://omidyar.org/

Documents

Creating a Path of Least Resistance Towards a Better World