Why Sociability?

Since the industrial revolution, our society has been dominated by an “efficiency” model of innovation: from the spinning jenny to self-service supermarket checkouts, we have been using technology to replace human beings with machines because machines are cheaper.

We think the internet is different. Rather than replacing human beings with automated systems, the web allows us to connect, share resources and be more useful to each other, networking us together to achieve things that computers cannot do. Understanding this new approach to technological innovation is driving a new generation of businesses, where the role of computers is not to replace people but to place people at the heart of our social and commercial models.

All our work is inspired by the belief that sociability is the true driver behind social progress, and good business. Technology is putting us in touch with each other, but it is our innate desire to connect and be useful to each other that is creating new opportunities for growth and change. Businesses that can tap into people’s innate desire to socialise, collaborate and learn together will always out-perform their less sociable rivals.

We make use of this principle in how we run our own business, relying on a network of associates to deliver projects rather than a full-time consultancy team. This enables us to bring in the right team of specialists for each job, so our work is more current and between us there’s very little we can’t handle.

We are also a sociable enterprise, which means we value the relationships we create with each other, and with the planet, more than money. We work with people we like, and we aim to ensure everyone connected with our projects is satisfied – clients, collaborators, staff, beneficiaries and innocent bystanders.

All our work is guided by the following principles:

• Everyone is an asset. We don’t see people as costs to be rationalised and replaced with automated systems. In the creative economy, every person involved in a business – staff, suppliers, customers, fans – is an asset who can help create value.
• Be honest. The world is a connected place these days, so the stories that travel are the ones that are simple and truthful, even if they are unpalatable. The only reliable way to excel is to do genuinely excellent work and tell the truth about it.
• Keep it simple. Complicated technology projects rarely end well, and complicated businesses struggle for focus and profits. Get the simple things right first, and then add complexity later.
• Be sustainable. Business is about wealth creation and mutual interest. Profit is no use to us if we destroy our own habitat along the way. Don’t expect us to help you plunder the world we all have to live in.
• Mutual profit. We want everyone connected with us to profit from the work we do – not just us and our clients, but all the people affected by our projects. We won’t help you exploit people.
• Share knowledge. Thriving societies run on collaboration. We use ideas developed by other people all the time, and so we share our ideas back with the community in turn. We don’t like monopolies, or hording knowledge, and we don’t want to reinvent the wheel.

There isn’t a legal structure for the type of business we are, but we’re doing our best to create something healthy and helpful. If you don’t like what we’re saying or you think we’ve forgotten something, get in touch.