Reading Summary. "Collaboration Rules" by Andre Fonarov

“Collaboration Rules” by P. Evans and B. Wolf
Summary by Andre Fonarov
April 20, 2009

The authors explored key principles and mechanisms behind highly productive and effective organization structures at Linux, an open-source software company with thousands of self-organized users and Toyota, a well-known automaker and a leader in quality, innovation and lean production. It was identified that despite apparent differences between a hacker- driven Linux community and clean-cut Toyota world of Japanese corporation, both communities share a number of common components that make them leaders in innovation and growth.

The following components of highly effective collaboration teams were identified in the article:
Principles:
A common work discipline driven by obsession, e.g. attention to small details, writing minimal code.
Raw information about problems and solutions is shared widely, frequently, and in small portions.
Project leaders act as connectors and lead by their own credibility.
Infrastructure:
A shared pool of knowledge.
Simple tools for moving knowledge around, e.g. emails and Listservs.
Benefits:
Rich semantic knowledge based on the knowledge pool available for further refinement by the whole community.
Modular teaming to expand and adapt quickly and with less risk.
Intrinsic motivation based on nonmonetary value, e.g. making something for the whole world.
High levels of trust as a result of constant scrutiny by others.
Driving down transactional costs. More time is spend on transactions than enforcing them.
Once the system gains a critical mass, it feeds itself.

In a summary, not markets, not hierarchies, but a combination of both provides an effective collaboration environment.