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The Self-Governing Internet: Coordination by Design

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  • Sharon Eisner Gillett
  • Mitchell Kapor

Abstract

Contrary to its popular portrayal as anarchy, the Internet is actually managed, though not by a manager in the traditional sense of the word. This paper explains how the decentralized Internet is coordinated into a unified system. It draws an analogy to an organizational style in which a manager sets up a system that allows 99% of day-to-day functions to be handled by empowered employees, leaving the manager free to deal with the 1% of exceptional issues. Within that framework, it discusses: how the Internet's technical design and cultural understandings serve as the system that automates 99% of Internet coordination; what the 1% of exceptional issues are in today's Internet, how they are handled by multiple authorities, and where the stresses lie in the current structure; and the differences in mindset that distinguish the Internet's self-governance from the management of more traditional communication systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Sharon Eisner Gillett & Mitchell Kapor, 1997. "The Self-Governing Internet: Coordination by Design," Working Paper Series 197, MIT Center for Coordination Science.
    • Handle: RePEc:wop:mitccs:197
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    Cited by:

    1. Patryk Krajewski & Witold Chmielarz, 2019. "Koncepcja kierunkow rozwoju systemow informatycznych (The concept of directions of development of information systems)," Research Reports, University of Warsaw, Faculty of Management, vol. 1(30), pages 67-79.
    2. Robert Stanisławski & Andrzej Szymonik, 2021. "Impact of Selected Intelligent Systems in Logistics on the Creation of a Sustainable Market Position of Manufacturing Companies in Poland in the Context of Industry 4.0," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-25, April.
    3. Michael Hutter, 2001. "Efficiency, Viability and the New Rules of the Internet," European Journal of Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 11(1), pages 5-22, January.
    4. Hofmann, Jeanette & Katzenbach, Christian & Gollatz, Kirsten, 2017. "Between coordination and regulation: Finding the governance in Internet governance," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 19(9), pages 1406-1423.

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