Re: WSJ article 4/24/96; hypertext and cultural differences?

[ewinters@xxxxxxxxxx]

  Yes, Jim, I certainly do!  I've been saying just that for many
  years - several articles on the subject can be found on my
  homepage.  Cheers!
          ........................................
          ewinters@xxxxxxxxxx    37.53 N  122.17 W
               http://www.bena.com/ewinters/
          ........................................
                     
On Thu, 25 Apr 1996, Jim Bryce Clark wrote:

> Reading today's (4/24) Wall Street Journal article on Ted and the HyperLab
> in Sapporo, the following thoughts came to me.
> 
> There's a lot of talk about "intranets" in American business now -- in-house
> hypertext-based information sharing systems.  Yet, in many American
> organizations, individual managers hoard their own memos and stores of
> information, and compete with *each other*. (An actual quote from a manager
> I knew:  "Put my form files on the company's computer network?  Are you
> kidding?  If someone wants to use MY stuff they'd better come to ME.")  The
> whole idea of hypertext is linked information -- not much use to someone who
> wants to keep their stuff *inaccessible*. 
> 
> The Japanese companies I've known (mostly as clients) work on a different
> model.  Typically, they compensate professionals for *group* performance,
> and their ability to *collaborate*.  A company-wide hypertext database of
> the collective corporate wisdom might be a lot more welcome in the latter
> context.
> 
> Do you suppose there are significant cultural differences in the
> attractiveness, and intuitive fit, of hypertext as a tool?
> 
>