So many people enjoy bashing the Grateful Dead and their followers that they ignore any of the good that they have done. They have offered their support to organizations such as Seva, (a nonprofit that brings eye operations to impoverished people), Riverkeeper, the Electronic Frontier Foundation and Wharf Rats (a group that help fans become and stay sober), among others. The Dead have taken their social and community responsibilities very seriously.
Few also realize that for quite a while there has been serious academic study of the Dead, their business organization and their fans.
The March issue of the Atlantic offers an excellent article on the Grateful Dead Archive scheduled to open soon at UC Santa Cruz. One of the most interesting aspects, to me, will be the insights offered into the Dead's business philosophy. As the article states, the Dead were visionary" in the way that they created customer value, promoted social networking and did strategic business planning."
The Dead incorporated in the mid-70's, established a board of directors, founded a profitable merchandising wing (named Grateful Dead Merchandising, oddly enough) and even though they allowed taping at their concerts and encouraged tape trading, they did not hesitate to prosecute copyright violators. They weren't greedy and adapted well. Who can say that about many companies today? Wall Street could certainly take a lesson.
Not bad for a bunch of dirty, lazy hippies.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
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