#87 BeyondFrames: Living the Networked Society with John Robb

John Robb, an expert in networked societies and tribal dynamics, returns to the podcast after more than three years, with some thought-challenging discussions. 

In this episode, Robb takes us through the inherent destructive nature of networked tribes and provides a unique perspective on our global civilizations trajectory.

He touches on dissent dynamics driven by social media, the danger in the concentration of power due to the transformative effect of AI, all while resonating its impact on business and organizational operations.

This is a special episode, and Robb leaves no leaf unturned. Tune in.

In today's open world, managing networked politics has become increasingly complex for brands, requiring proactive measures from the outset.

John Robb, a renowned author and expert in the field of global security, networked societies, and tribal dynamics, helps us unlock this and other topics on our podcast. 

Through popularizing concepts like "Global Guerrillas", where small, loosely connected groups use modern technology to disrupt traditional power structures; he has influenced several entrepreneurs and decision-makers with his thought-provoking insights and predictions. 

He discusses the importance of cultivating a corporate culture rooted in civility, introduces profound perspectives on global civilization, and even urges us to consider where we want to be in 200 years, given the limitations posed by Earth’s energy and social entropy.

This podcast episode offers a deep exploration of such critical themes, providing valuable perspectives on the future of society and the influence of networks. Listen in, and join the conversation.  

This episode also introduces a new format:  #BeyondFrames, occasional podcast episodes where we’ll extend the view beyond product and org design, to look at the context of our work and organizations 

Key Highlights

👉 Networked Tribes: how they affect markets and organization

👉 Importance of Early pattern recognition and intervention for managing complexity in organizations. 

👉How can organizations adapt to tribes and maintain brand coherence?

👉 How to establish corporate civility and neutrality 

👉AI’s impact on concentration of power, wealthand feudalization of warfare

👉The Permacrisis: how can we manage and prevent it at a societal level?

👉What is deindividualization, and how does it affect your organization?

Topics /chapters

(00:00) Intro - BeyondFrames: Living the Networked Society

(01:01) John Robb Introduction

(04:01) The Last 3 years for John Robb 

(07:23) Structure, Culture, and Strategy

(10:23) Decentralized Tribes vs. Hierarchical Corporates

(16:33) Future of Organizations and the Coherence of Brands

(18:53) Positivity of Network Tribes

(24:57) Entropy Growth and Organizations

(32:11) De-individualization and Group Dynamics

(35:44) Keeping Markets Free

(44:52) The Next Cycle

(58:43) Breadcrumbs and Suggestions

(01:03:06) Closing

Remember that you can always find transcripts and key highlights of the episode on our website:  https://www.boundaryless.io/podcast/john-robb2/

Episode recorded on January 11, 2024

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Music

Music from Liosound / Walter Mobilio. Find his portfolio here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://blss.io/Podcast-Music⁠⁠⁠