<An extract> <snip>... by 2005 consumers globally will have embraced Internet commerce. The virtual commercial "communes" that we see people being members of will support and provide recomendations of trustworthy sellers. The large number of disparate communities will be based around a common interest or value system. An example already exists in the newsgroups on the Internet - these are a usually very reliable source of information for users seeking advice on purchases and reliable vendors. Individuals and companies are likely to be memebrs of more than one "commune" depending on the matrix of interests and markets the consumer or vendor operates in. These markets will be self-regulating as purchasers and vendors apply commonly agreed values to the nature and method of business transactions. The rule of law will NOT apply in these marketspaces - the rule of the "commune" WILL. Purchasers or vendors not complying with the rules will be "ex-communicated" from the "commune" These communes will enable the building of further "free" and "trusting" commercial internet relationships with people and businesses around the world without the need for contractual agreements. There will be a mix of businesses and people who will identify with one of main communes, based on shared new postmodern values - irrespective of race or religion. The communes will have a membership fee to cover the cost of business referral services provided and the cost of filtering and research data sources. The fee is paid via direct Internet debit from the consumers and businesses virtual bank accounts. This initial transaction will set-up the account for e-commerce transactions with via the commune. World governments will watch the Internet markets evolve and place mild - but meaningless - restrictions locally; however, it will not enforce standard rating systems or filtering systems for Internet commerce, leaving it up to free market devices to play-out. The communes will emerge out these market forces and out of a worldwide consumer revolt against invading Internet agents and advertising that will try and control consumers thought and Internet movement. Aside from electronic commerce, the way in which business is carried-out will change dramatically. Many businesses will be reduced to a staff of only one as more and more individuals strike out on their own as 'virtual' entrepreneurs and consultants. The communes already mentioned will have a further use as a clearing house of work and ideas - the non-contractual nature of the relationships that will exist within these virtual job-centers will allow the new breed of entrepreneurs to take advantage of opportunities as they arrive, forming virtual organisations with individuals all over the world. The organisation will last just as long as it is needed - indeed, this will create very fluid, impossible to define organisations. They will have neither Articles of Incorporation, nor shareholders. The owners will be both shareholder, director and employee - brought together with a common understanding of the benefit of the new organisation and a desire for a 'win-win' outcome for all concerned. In fact, the old corporation, with fixed membership and fixed employees will be on it's way out as it will be unable to move quickly enough in this new ultra fast-paced world. Their investment in people will kill them as they are unable to adjust to the new pace. Those large corporations that do survive will instead become facilitators in the physical world, acting as meeting points, or as an entity for large fund-raising (Banks will still not be happy lending large amounts to a nebulous, virtual entity). Source: http://www.rsm.nl/electives/erasmus/MBA98/scenb/business.htm -- http://publish.uwo.ca/~mcdaniel/
