Strategies for Distributed and Collective Action: Connecting the Dots

How do we organize ourselves to accomplish shared goals? The premise of this book is that our well-worn modes of collective action – from markets to hierarchies, from institutions to movements – provide a limited vocabulary to investigate, let alone invent new forms of open, networked and transsectoral collaboration. The promise of this book is to introduce a novel set of concepts including shared concerns, symbols, interface designs, participatory architectures, evaluative infrastructures, network strategy and leading as diplomacy. Together they represent figures of thought that combine goal-orientated, purposeful action with scale, openness and creativity. Practically, this new vocabulary for distributed and collective action might help to address the big challenges and crises of our times.

‘A fascinating look at new models of distributed collective action. It’s rich in philosophical reflection and thoughtful observation of recent phenomena, from the refugee crisis to COVID, and links these to a sophisticated theoretical understanding of markets and crowds, movements and teams. I’ve no doubt that the territory which it covers will be part of the common sense of the near future and that this book provides vital insights into how intelligence can be orchestrated at larger scales.’ 

Professor Sir Geoff Mulgan, UCL

It seems that the world is in the permanent state of crisis; how can collective actions be organized in such a state? By investing in openness, polycentricity, and plurality, answers Martin Kornberger in his book that offers a deeply impressive combination of philosophy, old and new organization theory, political economy, and sociological reflection. I can imagine both Mary Parker Follett and Albert Hirschman applauding! This is a text that ought to be read by students of all social sciences, and of humanities as well.

Barbara Czarniawska, Senior Professor of Management Studies, FBA

This book brims with fresh ideas for understanding collective action and deftly recombines older, received modes of thought. Kornberger is an exciting thinker, and a hopeful one, too. Both are in short supply at the moment; this most welcome book will lift minds and spirits.

Woody Powell, Stanford University

How do collectives get things done? For generations we have looked to markets, hierarchies, institutions, and movements to explain collective action, but today new forms are emerging in surprising places, often enabled by new technologies. In this lively and delightfully readable book, Martin Kornberger inventories existing forms and provides a vocabulary for thinking about and designing new methods of coordination that can help guide our emerging future.

Jerry Davis Gilbert & Ruth Whitaker Professor of Management and Professor of Sociology, Ross School of Business, University of Michigan