Regarding parallel play-- Check out this article and pay special attention to the last paragraph. I've SEEN this happen when new coworkers join. (just substitute building blocks for laptops, drinking coffee, etc!) http://wondertime.go.com/learning/article/baby-parallel-play.html
On Mar 29, 12:50 pm, Alex Hillman <[email protected]> wrote: > I can provide some similar context from the software development world, > where I (typically) live. It's also undergone an interesting shift in > commoditization and specialization. The people who know how to build and > maintain "ambiant networks" for both producing and learning are the ones I > see continually succeeding. > > Not surprisingly, this was how I started my career independently: I > continually looked carefully to my professional network for inspiration as > well as context, which ultimately helped me keep my edge without needing to > a) be an expert in everything and b) become an expert in everything. If > anything, my expertise became knowing my own boundaries and not just when to > look elsewhere, but to where. I defined my first consulting "team" as a > "dynamic group of superheros" or something like it. This model was based on > "small pieces loosely joined" by Dave Weinberger (hat tip to Tara Hunt and > Chris Messina for that making it to my library early on). > > Some key concepts: > > > Our core team is small and powerful: full of ideas, talent, and drive. > > These characteristics get even stronger when we scale. > > It's about knowing when to say, > > *'I don't know, let's find someone who does'.* > > Harnessing the power of open source, community driven software and > > communication means we don't waste time doing things that are already done, > > and instead focus on doing things that stem from recognizing a new need. > > And from Weinberger's book (via Wikipedia): > > The web, Weinberger writes, "is enabling us to rediscover what we've always > > > known about being human: we are connected creatures in a connected world > > about which we care passionately." > > This stuff should be relevant to your paper, and quite frankly, everyone on > this list. > > -Alex > > /ah > indyhall.org > coworking in philadelphia > > On Tue, Mar 29, 2011 at 2:12 PM, Joshua Marpet > <[email protected]>wrote: > > > > > > > > > Alex, kudos for the honesty on the pants. :D > > > Anyways, I'd like to collate all this. I'm working up a paper and talk on > > a topic near and dear to my heart. I work and live in the Infosecurity > > world, and have WAY too many hobbies (physical security, public speaking, > > horse show announcing, and the psychology of geeks). > > > In Infosec, we have an industry that is commoditizing, and specializing. > > The change, from generalists who do everything, to specialists, who do one > > thing and one thing only, is good and bad. The good is that the specialists > > delve very deeply in their specializations. Cool. But they don't have > > context, history, or the big picture. Bad. > > > The idea of parallel play, co-working, etc, is one that was used > > extensively by the founders and plank owners of infosec. Nowadays? Not so > > much. > > > I'm not sure, but I want to see how I can add this concept to my preso. > > Mind you, my preso is little more than some notes and a maelstrom of > > thoughts. I'll have to see how the solution precipitates. But I didn't want > > to steal anyone's ideas without mentioning it. I try not to be rude. > > > Thanks! > > > Joshua > > > On Tue, Mar 29, 2011 at 2:04 PM, Alex Hillman < > > [email protected]> wrote: > > >> There's some other excellent quoatables from that article, btw, including: > > >> ...networking nights over margaritas were not what he wanted either, > >>> although he likes margaritas. > > >> And of course... > > >> "Oh, a shower's critical," Hillman said. "I'm coming from [working at] > >>> home, where there's no pants before noon and if I don't have to, no > >>> shower. > >>> Now, at least, I put on pants." > > >> Stupid pants. Stupid shower. :) > > >> /ah > >> indyhall.org > >> coworking in philadelphia > > >> On Tue, Mar 29, 2011 at 1:42 PM, Alex Hillman < > >> [email protected]> wrote: > > >>> The VERY first article about Indy Hall included reference of Parallel > >>> Play, back in 2007: > > >>>http://articles.philly.com/2007-08-19/business/25229858_1_trade-ideas... > > >>> It's not job-sharing, with two people taking turns in the same stall in > >>>> the cube farm. > > >>>> Instead, think of co-working as an entrepreneurial version of parallel > >>>> play, with owners of their own small businesses working side by side in a > >>>> drop-in place that looks like a coffee cafe, minus the barista, with all > >>>> the > >>>> accoutrements of what's hip: high ceilings, beer fridge, pool table and > >>>> Internet access. > > >>> I've used it in conversation since, but I don't think I've written about > >>> it. I think there's a lot in that concept as well. > > >>> -Alex > > >>> /ah > >>> indyhall.org > >>> coworking in philadelphia > > >>> On Tue, Mar 29, 2011 at 12:05 PM, Devin <[email protected]> wrote: > > >>>> I think the 'parallel play' idea is brilliant. Is there more that can > >>>> be drawn from the insight? > > >>>> -- > >>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google > >>>> Groups "Coworking" group. > >>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > >>>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > >>>> [email protected]. > >>>> For more options, visit this group at > >>>>http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en. > > >> -- > >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > >> "Coworking" group. > >> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > >> [email protected]. > >> For more options, visit this group at > >>http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Coworking" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. 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