Darren Barefoot recently posted about Doc Searl's idea of The Because Effect. Essentially it's a very interesting way to think about some forms of online business. Doc says:
I'm especially interested in exploring what I've been calling the because effect. This is what you get when your new business isn't just about inventing and controlling technologies and standards, but about taking advantage of the new opportunities opened up by fresh new technologies and standards. For example, making money because of blogging, or RSS, or desktop Linux, or whatever — rather than just with those things.
The because effect is a kind of jujitsu. While other people look to make money with something, you're finding ways of making money because of something.
Prime example, because of search, Google and Yahoo make money with advertising. Another: because of Rivendell, Salem Communications saves money with its core buisness, which is broadcasting. Because of his blogging, Thomas Mahon makes more money with his tailoring business.
I'm not quite sure how this fits with my world... perhaps: because of SOA and web services libraries are able to extend their holdings and services well beyond their traditional means and are able to work together to enable better service for their patrons?
Or: because of SOA, libraries are no longer dependant on siloed vendor systems and are able to make their technology infrastructure service their true needs in a digital world.
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