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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Thought I'd offer up something Kenoli posted on the
future search listserv. Might tickle a few chords here. (Hi
Kenoli)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>from cold, cloudy Seattle,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Peggy</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message -----
<DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A
title=kenoli@igc.org href="mailto:kenoli@igc.org">kenoli Oleari</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>To:</B> <A title=searchnet@list.nea.org
href="mailto:searchnet@list.nea.org">future search</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, July 23, 2003 7:42 AM</DIV>
<DIV><B>Subject:</B> [searchnet] The Math of Networks</DIV></DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000000 size=+1>AT our recent West Coast Future
Search Network meeting, we had a couple of learnings and insights I wanted to
share with this list, hoping to hear your reflections. I am going to send
them in separate emails in order to encourage a dialog on each of
them.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000000 size=+1><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000000 size=+1>The first was brought to us by Jerry
Talley, a new participant in the group who we hope to see much more of.
The reflection was one based on an aspect of networks with which he was
familiar. It is interesting because it gives a possible mathematical model
for "why" future search works. Jerry is going to send some information on
actually quantifying the dynamics described below.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000000 size=+1><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000000 size=+1>--Kenoli</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000000 size=+1><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000000
size=+1>===========================================================</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000000 size=+1><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000000 size=+1>The Math of Networks (from Jerry
Talley)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000000 size=+1><BR>Recent research in complexity
theory and the properties of networks has given us a sharper understanding of
how some FS strategies actually work. <BR><BR>The starting point is the
well documented "small world phenomena"; it was popularized in the movie "The
Six Degrees of Separation". It turns out that virtually any 2 people on
the planet are separated by about 6 links of association. That is, a rug
merchant in the Middle East can connect to a rural farmer in China in about 6
jumps. <BR><BR>There are other examples of the small world phenomena.
The human brain is organized in the same way. Because of that, the brain
can mount an almost instantaneous subjective experience encompassing memory,
sensation, emotion, anticipated futures, emotions, and more. <BR><BR>The
infrastructure of the internet has the same structure. As a result,
massive amounts of information can move quickly and
easily. <BR><BR>Networks which have this special structure are more
adaptive and innovative than we would ever imagine possible. This special
structure is easy to characterize. There are clusters of associations
(like people who known by hundreds, like the optical processing center in the
brain, or like eBay on the Internet). And then the really special element
is added on top of these clusters: there is a few long
links. <BR><BR>The occasional long link ties the network together.
Rather than isolated clusters, the network is suddenly almost alive. In
fact, the structure of the relationships takes the whole network through an
abrupt and critical shift. The increase in links produces a
disproportionate increase in capability. <BR><BR>In summary, one of the
most powerful results of a FS conference may be the creation of long links
between previously isolated clusters. People from different
departments. People from different ethnic communities. People from
distant perspectives. When they start talking to each other, the "network"
quickly becomes supercritical. The increased capability means greater
adaptability, the ability to hold complex or even conflicted conversations, and
greater innovation. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><TT>--</TT></DIV>
<DIV>Kenoli Oleari, Horizons of Change, http://www.horizonsofchange.com<BR>1801
Fairview Street, Berkeley, CA 94703 Voice Phone:
510-601-8217,<BR>Fax: 510-595-8369, Email: kenoli@igc.org (or click on:
mailto:kenoli@igc.org)</DIV>Post messages to: searchnet@list.nea.org
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