First place Quote by Clay Shirky
![“[B]ecause the minimum costs of being an organization in the first place are relatively high, certain activities may have some value but not enough to make them worth pursuing in any organized way. New social tools are altering this equation by lowering the costs of coordinating group action.” quote by Clay Shirky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a6d/clay-shirky-3364_first-place_b-ecause-the-minimum-costs-of-being-an-o_874307.jpg)
““[B]ecause the minimum costs of being an organization in the first place are relatively high, certain activities may have some value but not enough to make them worth pursuing in any organized way. New social tools are altering this equation by lowering the costs of coordinating group action.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: TED Talk “The Rise of Social Media”, 2008
High coordination costs limit organized action; new social tools reduce those costs, enabling more groups to pursue valuable activities.
In simple terms: Technology lowers the cost of organizing people.
Key Takeaway
Leverage digital platforms to coordinate efficiently.
Themes
organization
technology
coordination
social media
economics
Mood
optimistic
analytical
Type
observational
strategic
When to use this quote
- nonprofits
- grassroots movements
- online communities
- crowdfunding
- activism
Key Concepts
Network effects
transaction cost economics
collective action
Questions to Reflect On
- How can groups maintain focus as coordination becomes easier?
- What new barriers arise when organizing at scale?
A Different Perspective
Even with lower costs, coordination still faces trust and overload challenges.
![“[N]ew technology enables new kinds of group-forming.” quote by Clay Shirky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/988/clay-shirky-3364_forming_n-ew-technology-enables-new-kinds-of-gro_57243.jpg)
