The Starfish and the Spider by Ori Brafman and Rod A. Beckstrom is my top pick for this summer’s must read business book. (Of course I still have one more month to top it, but it’s going to be tough.) Generally, I like books that make me think; but I like books that make me think about my business plan even more.
The authors’ point is that some organizations (i.e., the Federal Government, major record companies) are like spiders where their command structure is centralized and if you chop off its head, the creature dies. Other companies are more like starfish, where if you chop off one of its arms, it grows another (CraigsList, AA). They make some great points about how difficult it is for centralized companies to fend off decentralized ones. So, what are you going to be? A spider or a starfish? Or perhaps a hybrid? They do allow for that.
The book benefits from using intriguing analogies – i.e., why the Apache Indians were able to survive for centuries (decentralized) and the Aztecs were wiped out (centralized). The authors also break down the 5 legs of a “Starfish-type� organization:
- Circles – Starfish organizations are made up of an infinite number of circles of participants.
- A Catalyst – All organizations need a “Craig� or other instigator, even if they don’t opt for the spotlight.
- Ideology – Note that they use this word and not “mandate� or “mission statement.�
- Preexisting Network – Sometimes the network forms before the idea for the company.
- A Champion – Every great idea needs someone to relentlessly promote it.
Now decentralization is not for every organization. In fact, it’s somewhat mystifying for people unfamiliar with the concept. The authors tell a wonderful anecdote about Dave Garrison, who was the CEO of Netcom back in the early days of the Internet, once trying to explain the Internet to French investors completely unclear on the concept. They kept asking him “but who is the president of the Internet?� Finally, he broke down and said he was, just so that they could get on with the meeting.
I will confess this book sparked a big change in my business plan. In fact, there were so many similarities between the structure of AA and my business that I’m going to do a little more research on AA’s history. Unfortunately, I don’t think I want to come up with a 12-Step program for women who don’t like to network. (Nor do I want to make an analogy that “we’re a little bit like AA.�) But, I can be a catalyst who creates better ways to enable women to create their own “networking circles� around a shared ideology. Next step … find a few champions, and then this starfish will launch!
The Bottom Line: Must read book for anyone in a Web 2.0 business or a traditional business being challenged by a new decentralized society.
This entry was posted on Saturday, August 4th, 2007 at 8:19 pm and is filed under Nonfiction. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
5 Responses to “The Starfish and the Spider”
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August 8th, 2007 at 4:39 pm
Great title, great sub-title and great metaphor. The book goes down hill once you open the cover. The work of Brafman and Beckstrom is good but I found that it was like reading Wikinomics-lite. If your into Web 2.0 you already know this stuff and are living it.
I found the book had an interesting concept but didn’t take it further or investigate its causes. A good lite read but yet another telling of the Wikipedia story and phenomena.
From your Recent Posts, stick with Wikinomics. If you are truly into seeing the future and where we are going then I recommend Nine Shift (William A. Draves and Julie Coates). The book outlines the 9 shifts that are changing the way we work, play and learn and will form the basis of 21 century culture and inter-action. Remember you still have August.
August 8th, 2007 at 7:25 pm
Michael – Thanks for the input and the book suggestion. I confess, I do like my technology and trend books “lite”. Makes them easier beach reads. Also, I’ve found that sometimes you need to have simple concepts to get people to understand the power of Web 2.0. (i.e. I just got back from a cocktail party where the majority of the people said they don’t understand or get the blog thing at all. But I did find one lawyer who actually gets 1/3rd of her business through her blog!)
My library didn’t have Nine Shift(they never get the cool new business books unless I donate the ones the publishers send me), but I was intrigued enough to order it online to take on my next trip this month. Anyone else have any more suggestions?
August 9th, 2007 at 5:55 am
I look forward to the review. Thanks for the take up.
August 31st, 2007 at 10:33 am
2 of my favorite books this year, in the field of neuroplasticity/ “brain fitness”:
- The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science, by Norman Doidge.
- Train Your Mind, Change Your Brain by Sharon Begley
If interested in learning more about the science and practice of how we can “cultivate” our brains…either book is fascinating. And engaging, non-technical, reads.
December 7th, 2007 at 6:01 pm
[...] leadership is not a modern notion, note Ori Brafman and Rod Beckstrom who believe it enabled the Apaches to evade a much larger Spanish army for 200 years. In their book, The Starfish and the Spider they [...]