4 ms·

Coase's Theory of the Firm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_the_firm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_the_firm although I think fiatmoney is con

Coase's Theory of the Firm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_the_firm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_the_firm although I think fiatmoney is conflating a centrally planned command economy with communism.

CamperBob2 10y ago
although I think fiatmoney is conflating a centrally planned command economy with communism. Seems like a distinction without a difference, considering that every time a nation tries to implement the latter they end up with the former as an "intermediate stage" of the revolution that somehow never goes away. In a corporate body, there is no pretense that central planning is a transitional stage. There are a few exceptions like Valve and Zappos, but even fewer genuine success stories where a non-hierarchical structure has outperformed traditional ones in the long run.
- Avshalom 10y ago
  Well the fascist countries for instance traditionally had a centrally planned command economy too, and 'fascist' (although that word has perhaps even more baggage than communism) is probably a closer fit to how companies act than 'communist'. Also while "crazy ass dictatorship" lacks any sort of unified political/economic manifesto, they always seem to end up looking like centrally planned economies too, though fewer companies of any real size end up as "crazy ass dictatorships" thanks to the magic of bureaucracy.
  - CamperBob2 10y ago
    Yes, in the US, "fascist" is a general-purpose insult directed at whatever politicians or parties the speaker doesn't like. One of those terms that brings more heat than light.
- Qworg 10y ago
  I think that Morningstar is an even better, non-tech example with lower skilled workers - it shows that self organization works, even in normal firms. http://www.inc.com/audacious-companies/leigh-buchanan/morning-star.html http://www.inc.com/audacious-companies/leigh-buchanan/mornin...

CamperBob2 10y ago

although I think fiatmoney is conflating a centrally planned command economy with communism. Seems like a distinction without a difference, considering that every time a nation tries to implement the latter they end up with the former as an "intermediate stage" of the revolution that somehow never goes away. In a corporate body, there is no pretense that central planning is a transitional stage. There are a few exceptions like Valve and Zappos, but even fewer genuine success stories where a non-hierarchical structure has outperformed traditional ones in the long run.

Avshalom 10y ago
Well the fascist countries for instance traditionally had a centrally planned command economy too, and 'fascist' (although that word has perhaps even more baggage than communism) is probably a closer fit to how companies act than 'communist'. Also while "crazy ass dictatorship" lacks any sort of unified political/economic manifesto, they always seem to end up looking like centrally planned economies too, though fewer companies of any real size end up as "crazy ass dictatorships" thanks to the magic of bureaucracy.
- CamperBob2 10y ago
  Yes, in the US, "fascist" is a general-purpose insult directed at whatever politicians or parties the speaker doesn't like. One of those terms that brings more heat than light.
Qworg 10y ago
I think that Morningstar is an even better, non-tech example with lower skilled workers - it shows that self organization works, even in normal firms. http://www.inc.com/audacious-companies/leigh-buchanan/morning-star.html http://www.inc.com/audacious-companies/leigh-buchanan/mornin...