---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: [B]ecause the minimum costs of being an…"
description: "\"“[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 ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6d/clay-shirky-3364_first-place_b-ecause-the-minimum-costs-of-being-an-o_874307.png"
---

#  \[B\]ecause the minimum costs of being an organization in…

![“[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/i/a6d/clay-shirky-3364_first-place_b-ecause-the-minimum-costs-of-being-an-o_874307.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6d/clay-shirky-3364_first-place_b-ecause-the-minimum-costs-of-being-an-o_874307.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6d/clay-shirky-3364_first-place_b-ecause-the-minimum-costs-of-being-an-o_874307.png)

> ““\[B\]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.””

[Clay Shirky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-shirky/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

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.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[First place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-place/) [Internet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/internet/) [Organization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organization/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/)

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