Traffic Jams: the ultimate in human collaboration
When thinking about the daily horror of traffic jams most will just have negative associations with the incapability of humans to cooperate. In my opinion, traffic jams are incredible examples of human cooperation and are worth a second look.
In a technical sense a traffic jam will be formed:
- A) when more cars are trying to squeeze trough a road then the capacity of the road allows for, or
- B) when a couple of cars decide to kiss each other and as a consequence reduce the capacity of the road and rule A applies again.
From a cynical perspective both rules require a type of collaboration, but do not warrant the second look I was asking for.
The most obvious collaboration is the drivers trying to prevent bumping into each other, staying in their driving lanes most of the time, just passively waiting for the jam to be dissolved. Here the collaboration between the drivers is executed at the same time and the same place, without the drivers communicating actively with each other 99% of the time. Sociologically and psychologically much interesting stuff can be said about this, but I leave that to others.
Now, to other aspects of the collaboration needed to organise the traffic jam you were in:
- 1) To form a traffic jam we at least need cars. How much collaboration is needed to build your car? Think about the development, engineering, production (global just in time supply chains, anybody?), marketing and maintenance needed to have the cars on the road. Not just 1 car but also all the various types and brands that are surrounding you, replicated by the millions.
- 2) Cars need energy: for this the biggest industries (and companies) in the world have created energy infrastructures (Gas, electricity, NLG) to deliver the energy needed to propel your car.
- 3) Not unimportant we need roads (including, signs, road management systems etc.) that need to be built and financed (if publicly paid for we need taxes to be levied).
- 4) Driving is regulated by laws and regulations. Laws have to be agreed upon. Drivers need drivers’ licences, which can be obtained at the city council. They need to obey to simple things like “drive on the right* side of the road” (*or left when that is the right side for your country.) We have Police enforcement, courts of law and lawyers in place.
- 5) Cars (and people) are insured and need financing.
- 6) In case of accidents we have police, fire departments, ambulances and hospitals aligned up;
- 7) While sitting back we enjoy, in-car entertainment, call (or text) your customer to announce your delayed arrival and look at the traffic navigation (GPS, apps etc.) for alternative routes.
- 8) This all is supported by an incredible amount of varying technologies and standards (i.e. the latter being a prime example of an effective mechanism for collaboration that will be explored at Red Planet Dust)
- 9) Without money as a means to exchange goods and services the above will just not be able to exits.
- 10) We could go on and on and on…
Now ask yourself again: how many people have had to cooperate to create the traffic jam you were in this morning? NB And do not forget all those people that were involved in the past to create the knowledge and other means – innovated step by step – that allows us to have this Traffic Jam.
Looking at the above I dare safely state that millions upon millions of people have had to cooperate to have you being stuck in that traffic jam this morning.
The sheer amount of cooperation (and resources, knowledge and technology) that is needed for almost anything we do today is lost on us as the incredible and non human magnitude and complexity of it is not obviously visible any more: we just take it for granted. The division of labour has come to an incredible level. Together we can create incredible complexities in collaboration without even noticing it.