In this article, I propose a three plank approach for laid off IT workers to consider: (i) use the Steem block chain; (ii) continue to collaborate with your laid off peers; and (iii) make use of "social technologies" for decentralized decision making.
Introduction
Image Source: pixabay.com, License: CC0, Public Domain
Image Source: pixabay.com, License: CC0, Public DomainWithout naming names, I happen to know of a large IT organization that has recently announced layoffs - on the order of hundreds or thousands of skilled, experienced, IT veterans. As a result of this reduction, a lot of intellectual capital will soon be hitting the streets. It occurs to me that this is a relatively common occurrence in today's economy, so this blog post is intended to offer a suggestion for any IT workers who find themselves suddenly, and unexpectedly unemployed along with a cohort of coworkers.
The traditional way of responding to layoffs is to take some down time, funded by severance, and then start pounding the pavements to look for another job. The problem with this approach is three-fold, first your skills undergo atrophy until you land a new job; next, it wastes the massive resource pool that is also available in the form of collaboration with your laid off coworkers; and lastly, it places your destiny under the control of your future employer.
In this article, I'm going to suggest harnessing block chain technology to create a new entrepreneurial paradigm for laid off IT workers. My suggestion consists of three components: (i) make use of the Steem block chain; (ii) Don't go it alone; and (iii) Self-organize using a methodology that is intended for organic, decentralized decision making.
Make use of the Steem block chain
https://ipfs.busy.org/ipfs/QmZdbSyq6UFr2JnJ3J6QVAtN9HvdmdY7tJZKAvkwsz6mKr Image Source: Pixabay.com, License: CC0, Public Domain
The Steem block chain offers any number of ways for an entrepreneurial minded innovator to start generating income. While you are regrouping and starting your job search, start making use of it as a blogging platform, and learning about it in more detail by reading the white paper, the blue paper, and the API Documentation. As an experienced IT worker, you already have many skills that are needed to thrive here.
If you are a developer, for example, you may want to start investigating the utopian.io web site as a way to monetize Open Source development efforts or look at the various web-site and "bot" initiatives that are capitalizing the block chain. At just two years old, this is still a near-greenfield opportunity.
If you are a manager or project manager, you could use the platform as a revenue-producing communications platform.
At this point, most people impacted by layoffs probably remember and worked professionally during the dotcom boom of the 1990s.
The market captured the imagination and interest of millions of Americans who participated in some form, either by tracking their own stocks online in the comforts of their homes, or watching a flurry of financial television programming. The environment created media stars out of top analysts at Wall Street brokerage firms and Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan.
"The gains have created unprecedented levels of paper wealth, according to Yale Hirsch, who runs the Hirsch Organization and edits the Stock Trader's Almanac. "More than $10 trillion in stock wealth was added between November 1994 and November 1999.
I am firmly convinced that blockchain in general, and Steem in particular, is on the road to experiencing something similar. If you develop this skill set, (I believe) you'll be well positioned to capitalize on another economic windfall of just the same sort as the 1990s era dotcom boom. Even if Steem fails, you will be developing marketable skills that can be used with other block chains in a hatchling sector that is virtually certain to succeed.
So go ahead and conduct your job search, but while you're waiting, start familiarizing yourself with the Steem block chain and using it as a source of supplemental income. Worst case, you get some extra money and new skills. Best case, you launch your own business and hold your destiny in your own hands.
Don't Go It Alone
https://ipfs.busy.org/ipfs/QmaZTqFyevYq6iroGvoeQh2uAGDFKtJTKtqttEFuevJPbC Image Source: Pixabay.com, License: CC0, Public Domain
As noted in the introduction, there is a massive resource pool that should be available to you, in the form of collaboration with your laid off peers. You're all in the same situation, and in aggregate, you and your coworkers have a wide variety of complementary skills. So why not collaborate with your former coworkers to organize your next opportunity from the ground up?
To do this, you can use traditional collaboration technologies like e-mail, google documents, and chat sites (like discord), in addition to revenue-producing collaboration on the Steem block chain.
For this last aspect, you may want to check out sites like steemit.com, busy.org, zappl.com, and steepshot.io.
Self-organize using a methodology that is intended for organic, decentralized decision making.
Image Source: pixabay.com, License: CC0, Public Domain
Image Source: pixabay.com, License: CC0, Public DomainIn order to collaborate in the virtual space, it is necessary to form some sort of organization. Of course, you could create the traditional hierarchical organization, but that may not be ideal for the sort-of bottom-up organic activity that will be needed. Instead, explore concepts like holacracy and sociocracy and use them to create your own self-organized enterprise.
For more information about holacracy, here are 7 Videos about Holacracy: A Social Technology for Human Self-Organization. For more on sociocracy, here is [Article Review]Sociocracy: An Organization Model for Large-Scale Agile Development. I wrote both of those articles last year.
In short, holacracy is a method for decentralized decision making where the organization is constructed of roles within sub-circles within circles and with bidirectional links between circles, instead of a traditional hierarchy. In this model, patterned after the human body with it's organs, cells, and blood vessels, the goal is to create:
a form of emergent order where you have "the right framework of rules and individuals with the freedom to act within that framework of rules."
Sociocracy is similar to holacracy, guided by the following four principles:
- Shared decision making based on consent,
- Circles as semi-autonomous units,
- Connecting circles by double-linking, and
- Electing people to functions and tasks
So using these methods in collaboration with your former and future coworkers, perhaps you can self-organize your way to keep hold of the reins to direct your own future.
Conclusion
Image Source: Pixabay.com, License: CC0, Public Domain
Image Source: Pixabay.com, License: CC0, Public DomainThis proposal is necessarily incomplete, but hopefully it creates a three-part outline that can be followed and extended by current and future IT workers after experiencing a layoff. Recapping, the suggestion is: (i) make use of the Steem block chain as a source for supplemental revenue; (ii) continue to collaborate with as many of your current and future coworker who are willing to participate; and (iii) make use of "social technologies" that are intended to facilitate self-organization and decentralized decision making.
Thank you for your time and attention.
Sign up for your own Steem account with this invitation from busy.org - https://busy.org/i/@remlaps.
As a general rule, I up-vote comments that demonstrate "proof of reading".
Steve Palmer is an IT professional with three decades of professional experience in data communications and information systems. He holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics, a master's degree in computer science, and a master's degree in information systems and technology management. He has been awarded 3 US patents.
Steve is a co-founder of the Steemit's Best Classical Music Facebook page, and the @classical-music steemit curation account.
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This is great. I've not been separated from an organization recently, but I am interested in the "entrepreneurial paradigm" you make note of. I am also interested very much in collaborative and autonomous structures to replace hierarchy.
I've been mulling over activity like this (crowdsourcing skill, crowd-allocation?) as part of an exercise in brainstorming what a transition from your typical business configuration to independent, distributed work might look like.
Thanks for the first iteration of a helpful framework!
Also, I'm disappointed about missing your holocracy and sociocracy posts. I'll be interested to read them. I've recently been reading about companies that have replaced hierarchy successfully. It's not always easy, or done well, but it is an interesting topic.
Thanks for the reply! I only scratched the surface in my articles on holacracy and sociocracy. I need to learn much more about them, but I think the concepts hold great potential.
Brilliant piece here and it may help many folks going forward. Blockchain is the new tech and the sooner people switch the better off and safer they will be. Bravo!
Thanks for the feedback! I hope it does help someone to see the new possibilities that blockchain brings to light.
There's definitely lots of opportunities to build something on this platform. I hope those who lost their jobs can find a fresh start soon
Thanks for the feedback. Yes, for me it's a thought exercise. For the people who are living through it, I also hope they land on their feet quickly.
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