An email conversation with a friend reminded of Tim Kastelle's point of "why it is so hard for you to get your innovative new idea to spread quickly."  Google Wave will have to deal with this problem of spreading by getting people to disconnect from their current networks and connect to Wave's value network instead.

Tim Kastelle has written extensively about how the "interconnectedness of our economic networks often makes it more difficult for new ideas to spread" and today I saw an example of it at play.  You can read a few of his posts on this subject here, here, and here.

A Living Example

A friend and I were shooting emails back and forth about a controversial post by Roberto Verganti.  After a couple of exchanges, my friend suggested that we "start a public forum discussion on this."  So I responded, "great idea, let's start a Google Wave on it" (i.e., I make that suggestion often).

His response came very quickly, "Not sure about Wave.  Just another fire to feed and I am running out of fuel."

It's the Value Network, Stupid!

Now, my buddy is not a Luddite.  Far from it.  He's very much into all kinds of innovations, in business and technology.  But the reality is that at this point, Google Wave does not give him enough bang for the buck.  It makes more sense for him to stay connected to his current value network for this kind of discussion (i.e., LinkedIn).  Couldn't argue with that.

My own enthusiasm for Wave doesn't blind me to the fact that its value network is pretty weak at this point; certainly in the economic sense.  I have no doubts that this will change and then one day somebody will tell me, "Not sure about XYZ.  I'll stick to Wave for now."

If You Build Them…

Google Wave has ways to go in several fronts, including its UI, performance, open-sourcing the server, publishing protocols, etc.  However, the key to its success will be based on the economic networks that emerge from it.

Come to think of it, we should start a Google Wave on this topic!