Commentary
Misunderstanding of Platforms Will Lead to Costly Failures
The business concept “platform” is widely misunderstood. Platforms are wrongly defined as digital tools that help two or more groups to interact. This causes much undesired ambivalence: Are electric scooter companies platforms? How is the interaction between the driver and the passenger in Uber different from a cab company? The…
Read MoreIt is not the survival of cities at stake, but the survival of rural areas
As cities capture parts of the power previously granted for nation states only, concerns about rural futures in the urban age have started to emerge. The role of rural areas is one of the most pressing issues for sustainable and democratic urban futures.
Read MoreWhat we did not learn from the Finnish basic income experiment – and what to do next?
It has been exciting to read the news and commentaries on the preliminary results of the Finnish basic income experiment. Seldom if ever have we seen so many articles published on an academic study almost in real time, written by journalists, experts and enthusiasts from all over the globe. Two…
Read MoreModern Technology Causes Anxiety, But Nearly a Million Finns Need Reskilling
This is how SAK and Google would bring digital learning to all workplaces.
Read MoreIncurable Assets – Why our ability and willingness to change cannot be held hostage to unsustainable financial valuations
Companies have assets and expertise we already know will significantly decrease in value, yet are stubbornly kept in the books at high valuations. Similar to a failing organ in an aging body, there is a nasty surprise in the waiting on the balance sheets as well.
Read MoreThe World Needs Big Ideas – Demos Helsinki Publications of Early 2019
Demos Helsinki publications of early 2019 include the next era social security models, governance innovations for the 21st century, and futures brief for growth-seeking companies that want to create the success stories of the future.
Read More9 things that give you hope about climate change
The IPCC-report has caused many to wake up to the fact that there is very little time left to limit climate change: emissions need to be reduced globally within a decade. There are fortunately also clear signs that some issues are developing in a positive direction. We compiled a list of nine ongoing processes, that give us reasons to be hopeful.
Read MorePlatform models as a fundamental renegotiation of our social contract – Demos Helsinki at the Platform Economy Summit
Our societies evolve faster than ever and as we recently stated, we want to ensure that these developments go well for both us as the people and our planet in general. The first step in understanding global change is acknowledging the hyperconnected societies we all live in. The second step…
Read MoreHyperconnected technologies change how to do business – four value creation models that are successful in the future
Hyperconnected technologies change how companies do business and create value, by gathering more precise insights for better decision-making. In the era of hyperconnected business, we have an unprecedented amount of data available. This means that we are able to coordinate resources and produce value in new ways.
Read MoreLimited Liability Corporation is Dead, Long Live Responsible Ownership
Limited liability corporation has been a successful business structure that has many strengths. Now we have an economic system where a single platform is needed to manage trust-relations in the entire sector – think Airbnb or even Hotels.com for the hotel business. Companies affect to our democratic systems and dictate common…
Read MoreWe let platforms govern our lives but how to govern platforms?
Have you lately seen a business presentation that hasn’t mentioned Uber, Airbnb or Facebook?
Read MoreIt’s not enough to develop technology – If we want to benefit new technology, we need to shape the societal institutions
Technology is developed simultaneously in different contexts, including virtual reality, artificial intelligence, robotisation, nanomaterials, and energy technology. All these developments have potentially significant social consequences, as digital platforms displace traditional companies, computers displace humans, and new devices displace traditional channels of communication.
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