The rise of beta - a new mindset?
Over the last years everything happens do be deployed in beta. Everything is launched as beta, everything happens to be unfinished. Is that a good or a bad thing, and why is that happening right now?
It seems that companies and individuals are in the need to be involved, to create together, to find an answer on how to cope with speed, complexity and instant change. As I see it – and I’m not the only one – beta is the answer.
And – I need to say that :-) – beta is very much a state of creation, innovation, creating change, facilitating change with high speed and with the use of many of the principles discussed on the weblog CPH127.
Together with good friends I’ve started to write on a beta-manifesto, where we until know have gathered a few principles, please help us to make the list even more complete…
1. being in beta is a natural state of life. Everything aroundus is either evolving or dying.
2. beta is playing. Experimenting. Trying.
3. beta is constant learning.
4. beta is profiting in the true nature of the word “profit”. Making progress.
5. beta is never perfect. Never completely without fault. Just like any human being. Everything can be made better. Allways. Achieving temporary perfection is better than aspiring for the ultimate perfection that is never reached.
6. beta is release as soon as it is safe. But never sooner. Only daredevils flies planes in beta or takes unfinished medicine.
7. beta is a natural state of things. Your body is in perpetual beta until you die (maybe..)
8. beta is evolution. Many small gradual changes. Suddenly they may seem like giant leaps.
9. beta is revolution. Not completely in control. Just like the real world.
10. beta is open. Ready for dialogue. Open for change. Positive for co-creation.
11. beta stands for things that changes. Change with consistancy.
12. beta creates feedback loops for companies, individuals and products.
13. beta is honest. Not superficial.
Is this list complete? Anything to add?
I’ve been writing about this before - I think the discussion is not over yet…
November 2nd, 2006 at 9:57 pm
There is a great need for Beta thinking. I am surprised how few people think of experiments as the natural way of improving and innovating. And dont forget: Being in the Beta state is FUN!