Throwing Sheep in the Boardroomis the first book written for a wide audience about the powerful trend that is reshaping your life: the Web 2.0 social networking revolution. Throwing Sheep in the Boardis about how the Web 2.0 revolution is transforming your life, your work, and your world.

 Combining a pop sociology approach with rigorous analysis rich in economic history and organizational behaviour, Matthew Fraser and Soumitra Dutta have written a lively and provocative book about the global popularity of social networking platforms – from MySpace and Facebook to YouTube, Wikipedia and Twitter. Social networking sites are a global phenomenon. Sites like MySpace and Facebook now boast hundreds of millions of members. Online social interaction has become an indispensable part of their daily lives. Fraser and Dutta examine the powerful forces driving this social e-revolution, describe the equally powerful reactions to it, and make predictions about its long-term consequences.

 The book is organized around three major themes: identity, status, and power. Following the explosion of Web 2.0 social platforms, identities are becoming increasingly multi-faceted, status is becoming more democratically based on performance, and power is being diffused from centralized vertical structures to horizontal networks. These are powerful changes with profound, far-reaching implications for how we organize our lives, our institutions, and our society.

 Taking its title from the whimsical “sheep throwing” application used by members of sites like Facebook, the book concludes with reflections on the Web’s potential to revitalize social capital and civic participation through e-government and e-democracy. Throwing Sheep in the Boardroomwill be enjoyed by educated readers with an interest in social trends, consumer behaviour, psychology, history, politics and economics.

'\"...looks at the power and impact social networking sites are having in our personal and professional lives.\" (The Daily Telegraph, November 11th 2008) '

Throwing Sheep in the Boardroomis the first book written for a wide audience about the powerful trend that is reshaping your life: the Web 2.0 social networking revolution. Throwing Sheep in the Boardis about how the Web 2.0 revolution is transforming your life, your work, and your world.

Combining a pop sociology approach with rigorous analysis rich in economic history and organizational behaviour, Matthew Fraser and Soumitra Dutta have written a lively and provocative book about the global popularity of social networking platforms – from MySpace and Facebook to YouTube, Wikipedia and Twitter. Social networking sites are a global phenomenon. Sites like MySpace and Facebook now boast hundreds of millions of members. Online social interaction has become an indispensable part of their daily lives. Fraser and Dutta examine the powerful forces driving this social e-revolution, describe the equally powerful reactions to it, and make predictions about its long-term consequences.

The book is organized around three major themes: identity, status, and power. Following the explosion of Web 2.0 social platforms, identities are becoming increasingly multi-faceted, status is becoming more democratically based on performance, and power is being diffused from centralized vertical structures to horizontal networks. These are powerful changes with profound, far-reaching implications for how we organize our lives, our institutions, and our society.

Taking its title from the whimsical “sheep throwing” application used by members of sites like Facebook, the book concludes with reflections on the Web’s potential to revitalize social capital and civic participation through e-government and e-democracy. Throwing Sheep in the Boardroomwill be enjoyed by educated readers with an interest in social trends, consumer behaviour, psychology, history, politics and economics.

This book is about online social networks – MySpace, Facebook, Bebo, Friendster, and others — and how they are transforming our lives. Online social networking is revolutionising how we see ourselves, how we interact with others, how we work, and how we do business. This book examines the powerful forces driving this revolution, the impact of these profound changes, and their far-reaching consequences.

The chapter structure of the book is built around Idenitity/Status/Power which gives a cohesive central argument running through the book linking the micro – individual to the macro - society effects. Every chapter is rich in anecdotes and illustrations from business.  Entertaining parallels are made with the world of the Knights Templar in the Middle Ages, which help bring out 

Based at INSEAD, the authors are uniquely placed to comment in an influential way on the implications of these new networks for business and the economy.

'Matthew Fraser,PhD, is a Senior Research Fellow at INSEAD and teaches at the Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris. A recognised media industries expert, he also has long experience as a journalist, including weekly columnist, national television host, and Editor-in-Chief of Canada’s national daily newspaper, the National Post.

Soumitra Dutta,PhD., is Roland Berger Chaired Professor of Business and Technology at INSEAD. He is faculty director of elab@INSEAD, a center of excellence in the digital economy working in collaboration with organisations such as SAP and Intel. His research has been showcased in the international media such as CNN, CNBC, and the BBC. He is a fellow of the World Economic Forum.  '

'Foreword.

Preface.

Acknowledgements.

Introduction: social networking e-ruptions – identity, status, power.

Part I IDENTITY.

1 The I’s have it: multiple selves in virtual worlds.

2 The kindness of strangers: the ties that bind.

3 It’s a small world: exit, voice and loyalty.

4 We Googled you: the privacy paradox.

5 Virtual reality: Second Life and death.

Part II STATUS.

6 Social capital: monkeysphere to cyberspace.

7 Me, MySpace and I: the fame game.

8 Status hierarchies: loveable fools and competent jerks.

9 Everyone’s a critic: ratings and rankings.

10 Blogs, bosses and brands: reputation management.

Part III POWER.

11 The anatomy of power: getting things done.

12 Davids and Goliaths: the revenge of the amateur.

13 Markets 2.0: why MyMusic calls the tune.

14 Enterprise 2.0: wiki while you work.

15 Democracy 2.0: friends in low places.

Conclusion.

Notes.

Index. '