Fw: [searchnet] The Math of Networks

Tue Sep 9 09:21:13 PDT 2003

Welcome Alexander, and thanks for your blog link too.  Several of us
here have weblogs as well, including myself
(http://www.chriscorrigan.com/parkinglot ) , Michael Herman
(http://www.globalchicago.net <http://www.globalchicago.net/> ) and
Martin Leith (http://www.martinleith.com/blog/).  I like what blogging
(keeping weblogs and linking to sources) is doing in the wider world to
connect people and ideas and create networks.  I'll add you to my list
of links.

As for the math of networks, I like what David P. Reed has said on this.
In this article - http://www.epublicrelations.org/Reedlaw.html - someone
has outlined his mathematical law of group formation:

"The Group Forming Law (or, Reed's Law) calculates the number of groups
of two or more people which can be formed a single group.

For example, how many groups of two or more people can be formed with an
initial group of three? According to Reed's Law is 2N-N-1. Substituting
3 for N the answer is 4. Not a very impressive number. However, the
answer grows dramatically as N grows. For example, how many groups of
two or more people can be formed in a classroom of 20 students? The
answer? 1,048,555!!!

More here:
http://www.contextmag.com/setFrameRedirect.asp?src=/archives/199903/Digi
talStrategy.asp

I sometimes like to do the math before meetings to use the figures to
explain the amount of potential in the room. Walking the circle,
uttering the second principle about whatever happens, I sometimes say
"and if you don't believe me, understand this:  The twenty of you in
this room can form yourselves in over one million permutations, so don't
be too worried about what might have been.work with what is."

And Harrison, I've often thought of responsibility not so much as an
initial condition, but more as a kind of boundary that both enables and
bounds the passion.  Passion and responsibility have a symbiotic
relationship in Open Space, but my experience has been that people
discover their responsibility AFTER they tap their passion.  In other
words, without passion as the initial condition, it's less likely that
people will feel like they need to propose a topic, much less convene a
conversation or follow up.  But people motivated by passion can seem to
do anything.  Reminding them that the CAN do anything (with the Law of
Two Feet) certainly helps.

---
CHRIS CORRIGAN
Bowen Island, BC, Canada
http://www.chriscorrigan.com
chris at chriscorrigan.com
(604) 947-9236

-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of
Harrison Owen
Sent: Tuesday, September 09, 2003 5:23 AM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Re: Fw: [searchnet] The Math of Networks

At 11:58 AM 9/9/2003 +0200, you wrote:

Hi

Yeah, small world networks are definitely a big part of why Open Space
works. Actually it's a big part of why the world works :o)

Mark Buchanan has written an excellent and highly readable book called
"Small world" on this very new and very promising science. I've reviewed
it here: http://www.kjerulf.com/journal/00000214.htm .

Obvious parallels between small world networks and open space gatherings
include:
* Small world networks are highly adaptable, yet very stable - as are
Open Space gatherings
* The structure in small worlds networks arises without central planning
- as in OS
* Bumblebees can be seen as "weak connections" between tightly knit
groups - one of the main reasons that small world networks are tightly
knit

Right on! Despite the fact that some folks think they actually organize
networks, I think the truth of the matter is that they happen all by
themselves in the way of all self-organizing systems. The critical point
of initiation is the convergence of passion and responsibility --
somebody cares about something and takes responsibility to talk to
others who might share the care. If the fire of passion ignites -- you
have a network. If it fizzles and goes out in a puff of smoke, you don't
-- and no amount of huffing and puffing will make any difference. Sounds
a lot like Open Space to me.  All of which relates, I guess, to Artur's
thoughts about "essential conditions" . . . Chris put it neatly
(although I am not so sure how elegant I was)  "As for the conditions
that make Open Space really hum, I go back to
Harrison's elegantly stated four: passion, diversity, complexity and
urgency.  The more of each, the better the process works." I think it
might work better if one were to say passion/responsibility -- but
anyhow I find the same essential conditions apply to all useful
networks.

ho

Harrison Owen
7808 River Falls Drive
Potomac, MD 20854 USA
phone 301-365-2093
207-763-3261 (Summer)
Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com
<http://www.openspaceworld.com/>
Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org
<http://www.openspaceworld.org/>
Personal website http://mywebpages.comcast.net/hhowen/index.htm

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