Machine, Platform, Crowd: Harnessing Our Digital Future

Machine, Platform, Crowd is a must read book. It does an excellent job of analyzing the forces that are digitally transforming our world and providing a playbook for how to thrive in this new world order. As the title suggests, the book looks at three mega trends. First, the growing capabilities and scope of machines, examples include robots, Internet of Things devices and automation. Second, the growing role of platforms rather than just products. Finally, the power and emergence of the crowd – from open source software projects to social media inspired movements and global communities. Given my background in technology and communications I found the second part of the book - Product and Platform - to be fascinating. A vast number of industries and organizations have been, and will be, impacted by the rise of platforms and the authors provide several well researched case studies. One of the areas that the authors focused on is the media industry including newspapers and music. To provide a model for understanding the changes that are happening the authors introduce the framework of ‘Free, Perfect and Instant’ and explain how the combination of the three accelerate change. As the authors note, some platforms are created by companies (Airbnb, Craigslist, etc.) while others are created by a collection of organizations such as the Internet and the world wide web. While each of the three trends is powerful and unique in and of itself, by analyzing the three trends together the authors provide a unique and compelling perspective on how to not just survive but to thrive in the new digital world. It is very readable and filled with lots of case studies. Highly recommended for anyone trying to understand our hyperconnected, digital world.

Good book, but very dated, Written in 2017, many of the mentioned companies are no longer around.

Even years after its publication this is still a relevant, excellent primer about Today's modern economy. The authors provide an educational narritive of tools used, trends driving change and finally components that make up Today's economy. The book roughly divides into 3 sections. The First covers the emerging tools (i.e. artificial intelligence, robotics, 3d printing, etc). The second explores the trends using the tools (e.g. platforms, crowd, decentralization, etc). The third covers the components of the economy (e.g. markets, firms). In short there is alot to digest in this book as the authors put the pieces together that make up the 2nd machine age. The first section is a slower read to digest the concepts behind each tool but necessary to understand the paradigm shift each tool brings and the body of knowledge that drives them. The second section becomes more focused , more interesting discussing the trends that harness the 2nd machine age tools. The third section was the most enjoyable brining it all together into the "so what" conclusions of the authors (and the personal ones that you will form). If you are looking for a place to start, a primer to learn about technology and modern economy this is a good place to start. Is there anything missing? The authors focus more on the upside and much less on the downside (i.e. the "governance" and "risk management" of these advances). To be fair the authors don't completely ignore the negatives but they also don't give equal coverge to them either. The negatives ultimately have economic costs either in loss or in managing, reducing or eliminating loss. Managing the dimensions of risk are significant (e.g. operational, reputational, legal, credit, market and so on) As the authors state the modern economy is incresingly becoming more complex, moving faster and requires greater agility to respond as these tools and trends become more prevalent. That also applies no less to managing and balancing the risk with the reward of these advances, something to think about as you read the last section. Something FAGMA and other companies are increasingly devoting more resources to as their business models are being challenged for the negative impacts perceived or caused.

Full disclosure I am Erik's brother, and after having read MPC, I am proud to brag about that. MPC is a tour de force. Firstly it is extremely dense, in that every sentence, paragraph, page, chapter, and part is packed full of new information and deep analytical insights. Secondly, it is extremely scientific, not in the sense of being academic or theoretical, but in the sense of being objective, observation and data driven. Thirdly it is tremendously impactful and contemporary. Most of the examples, and there are hundreds, relate to things that are happening here now and inevitably in the future. As an aside, after having read the first introductory chapter, I told a powerful CEO friend of mine that he needed to read the book now because "it will make the hair on your arms stand on end". Put another way the detailed descriptions and phenomena discussed in the book will disrupt trillion dollar companies, along with millions of individual jobs and careers. (That's mostly good as as book discusses.) Fourthly, the book is very well written, and a readable page turner, with only a few easily decipherable acronyms. Kudos to Erik, Andrew, and anyone else who contributed to this book in anyway. Lastly to you the review reader, stop what you're doing now and get a signed book from Erik (as I did at one of his speaking events), and buy a Kindle and Audible version of the book (as I also did) and start reading it now before the train pulls out of the station.

Great book, easy to read and interesting realistic concepts . I recommend to buy it if you are studying MIT short course of Digital Business Strategy as the book is the base of it.

La primera parte de esta serie aporta una idea interesante y práctica sobre la velocidad y profundidad de los cambios tecnológicos y cómo afectarán a nuestras vidas. Este segundo libro estructura muy bien los efectos de la red y los nuevos avances en el futuro del trabajo. La conclusión es muy positiva a diferencia de otros libros que solamente ven nubes en el futuro del mercado laboral. Incluye en cada capítulo una serie de preguntas que invitan al lector a pensar sobre los efectos sobre tu propia empresa

I am glad that I purchased this splendid orchestration of our immediate future, in strong and practical terms. The ongoing AI onslaught for redefining the fundamentals of our existence was too exciting for me to learn more about the shape of things to come. The authors have done a fantastic job of how the age of data is panning out on multiple dimensions of our livelihood. There is such a remarkable elucidation buried in here, that I am sure I will be benefited with as I move forward. I believe this is a responsibly calculated way of sowing the seeds of how we can create a renewed world order, how we should welcome the long pending revision to the heavily rusting industrial philosophies which has been the bedrock of our growth economy so far. Fundamentally, I believe this publication makes us think about the fact that we are after all social beings, how could we have gone by creating an economy that doesn't recognize it?

I needed this book rather quickly. It is true that the book is a basic paperback, but it serves its purpose. Even though it was a new edition on pre-order, it was delivered way ahead of the promised date just a few days after printing. Thank you.

Constantly referring to the stories and examples. Thought provoking for any business owner or consultant. Worth a reread. The only negative is that it had an ending. One of those rare finds where you wish the book would never end. What to read next to top this one is the challenge.