IIW14: VRM update

Doc Searls started out by listing many parts of this area on the whiteboard about VRM. As a principle, VRM makes us independent of organizations and better able to engage.

We want to be able to work with CRM, not against.

Concerns: We’re losing more control, ability to manage our own data. We need better communications to be pro-active to be in control. Wondering how it will be commercially viable. VRM is a more efficient market to solve problems.

From solutions side, potentially inverting the info structure is very powerful–info from person to market (accuracy, intent, etc.). Actual known intent is a more powerful than guessing.

Everything that creeps us out is from bad guesswork. Enormous opportunity and a lot of money left on the table due to present market efficiencies. Newly trained quants being sucked up by miserable guesswork.

How does someone verify that another is who they are? Verified identity, trust and reputation, personal data stores to verify. There are many options.

It’s not just about business, not just about my wallet. It’s about relationships and conversations left on the table too. I want it easier to control my part of the world.

Example of a pharmaceutical company filled with doctors but company is run by marketing department. Or a large well-respected auto manufacturer that’s run by their IT department (who limits everything).

What are big catalyzing factors that will help this? We’re one invention away, the necessity that mothers invention. We’re all doing groundwork, necessary but not sufficient. Big orgs will cope, but it’s not their job.

Question: what will it take? Several things, but it gets down to the fact that it answers needs that we currently have in our data flow lives. Example: buying a car (a guy who just goes and gets one for a fee, buyer doesn’t have to deal with dealership. Kantara Info Sharing’s car buying user story illustrates what it might look like.)

It’s also about trust: giving a real phone number generated 50 calls re: health insurance. Same thing for moving. Intent is a big deal, and we’re being subbordinated by the needs of others. Most people have no knowledge or concern (yet) about creating personalized contracts and relationships. Also where do networks begin and end? Should be possible to use affiliated parties to fulfill interactions without ever revealing our identity. We want to do the whole spectrum of relationships, not just transactions.

If there’s a way to leverage personal identity, other aspects of this conversation forward, that would benefit everyone. Structural tools: opening up a channel (with user control) and intent-casting, other party’s reputation is affected, brings a bi-directional equality to the market. Where is control, ownership and leverage, and when does it start (young student playing sports)?

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