Using status feeds for peer production by coordinating non-predictable business processes

Abstract

Peer production uses the collaborative intelligence of its environment by relying on self-managed, decentralized coordination. Social software offers a broad variety of methods and applications for simplifying communication and harnessing collective intelligence. Status feeds, which are regularly used within social networks, may be considered as an important feature of these approaches. This article examines the use of status feeds for supporting the execution of non-predictable business processes. Given the context of Enterprise 2.0, existing business process management approaches will be discussed before developing resulting requirements for a feed-based system which will then be implemented as a prototype and showcased via an exemplary peer production process. The implementation is followed by an evaluation of the findings and results. © 2012 Springer-Verlag.