On Business as Community

We need to consider business as a community of communities.

1. At the outset of this discussion let’s consider the nature of community, beginning with a simple model.

RL (EN+VL) → Cm

Wherein:

RL = relating
EN = entities
VL = value
CM = community

Explanation:

If there is a relating of entities around value, then there is community.

In other words, community exists where entities relate to a value.

2. Now let’s add one layer of complexity.

RL (CM+VL) → CM

Wherein:

RL = relating
VL = value
CM = community
CM = community of communities

Explanation:

If there is a relating of communities around value, then there is community of community.

3. Now consider three observation/rules:
   1. For a particular community to thrive, the particular elements must thrive: relating (which involves communication/reception), entities (which involves selection/attraction) and value (which involves emphasis/clarification).
   2. For a community of communities to thrive the particular member communities must thrive.
   3. The thriving of a member community within a community of communities can diminish the thriving of the other member communities.
4. Finally, let’s adapt these observations to a marketplace context – In doing so let us suggest that enterprise is a community of communities. These include the following constituents.
   • Shareholders
   • Employees
   • Vendors
   • Customers
   • Competitors
   • Etc.