Paul Graham on OpenBusiness

I just came again across an article I read a while ago, but never got around to posting it. One of the most inspiring and insightful articles on how business could and should change by learning from Open Source Software has been written by Paul Graham, the founder of YCombinator (we reported about the lean VC model here).

In an article entitled ‘What Business Can Learn from Open Source‘ he writes “the biggest thing business has to learn from open source is not about Linux or Firefox, but about the forces that produced them. Ultimately these will affect a lot more than what software you use.”

He goes on and tells us elegantly on how current business thinking is based on the harsh realities of indudtrial and repetitive work. A time where ‘work’ meant doing boring, repititive in brick building you had to commute to. In contrast, he argues, OS can teach us on why people work harder on things they like. Well, all of that is not surprising, but still insightful.

On wonders if his innovative investment model produces companies putting his thoughts into reality?