Do Talk to Strangers: Encouraging Performative Ties to Create Competitive Advantage

In a recent study, Levine has found that often, what gives firms competitive advantage isn't just their repository of knowledge, but their use of "performative ties" -- those impromptu communications made by colleagues who are strangers in which critical knowledge is transferred with no expectation of a quid pro quo. Levine and others explain how performative ties function in daily practice and -- more importantly -- how managers can go about encouraging them. (Sep. 7, 2005)

Napster's New Boss - and Uncertain Future

"The fascinating thing that many [Napster analysts] have missed is that the company was based not on trading but sharing."

Can Napster and Bertelsmann Make Sweet Music Together?

While media industry pundits argued that "Napster will...set the trends for the way music content is distributed, sold and marketed over interactive channels", Levine said:"Napster was not born as a business idea, Napster was born as part of this movement toward sharing...How they are going to make money off that nobody knows... I don't see how they are going to charge money and keep their users." Eventually, the attempt to commercialize Napster ended in an estimated $85 million loss. The brand name was salvaged and sold for $5 million to create a commercial service.

The Candidates and the Cliffhanger Elections

Chosen from more than 1,450 letters on the 2000 election debacle, this published letter to the editor criticized the actions of both parties and predicted the bitter political bickering that followed.

Napster or Not, Online Sharing Will Thrive

In the summer of 2000, Levine predicted that the legal fight to shut down Napster, the popular file sharing software, will have a negligible effect on the growing movement of music sharing on-line. Further, he predicted that the trend will expand to include digitized full length movies.