Hi Gunnar and All,
Just want to make clear the third time: I did not and do not want to mix, compare or justapose Bell Labs and Facebook. My view is and has been that there are variations exist apart from them and it is not necessary to polarize them. If credits have to made, then I would suggest that it was Gunnar who pointed to the article whose author started all the justaposition/comparison. However, in this complex world we live in, who knows, who else has triggered this originally.
Anyway, once again, from what I have read: organizationally, Bell Labs represented the 'vertically integrated model' and the silicon valley in which Facebook is a node, represents a 'distributed model'. Both rely on collaboration among many different actors: creative and talented and dedicated individuals, capitals, and different kinds of organizations. But as others might know, most (if not all) companies lean toward one model or the other depending on their strategies at different times. And no company is ever PURELY integrated or distributed. These are conceptual distinctions that provide clear cut clarity but practices are messy.
So the forth time: I suggest not to polarize Bell Labs and Facebook!
Rosan
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