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This is a preliminary discussion of peer-to-peer mutual coordination of [resource flows in economic networks](https://www.valueflo.ws/introduction/concepts.html).
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This is a preliminary discussion of peer-to-peer mutual coordination of [resource flows in economic networks](https://www.valueflo.ws/introduction/concepts.html). To be elaborated.
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![network flows](https://rawgit.com/valueflows/valueflows/master/release-doc-in-process/network-of-networks.png)
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For the purposes of this discussion, "mutual" and "peer" mean relationships of respect and cooperation between people and organizations who cannot command or order each other to do anything. They can only interact by offers, requests, and agreements.
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So one phase of mutual coordination is planning and making agreements on network and resource flow relationships, where people and organizations might agree to become nodes in a P2P economic network.
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Those agreements may be adhoc, about a particular resource flow, or they may be ongoing, covering many situations that fit into the scope of the agreement.
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The agreements, whether adhoc or ongoing, will shape the economic network.
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One important part of mutual coordination will take place between resource flow network neighbors, where one node provides resources for another node.
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Sometimes those neighbor relationships do not exist yet, and are created as needed by adhoc agreements. For example, one node may plan a process that requires some specialized skills, or some materials or equipment, or resources of some other type that they do not have on hand. So they might post requests to the network and beyond to find other nodes that might be able to fill those requirements. Those nodes will then become neighbors.
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Or some nodes might post offers of available resources, which other nodes might accept.
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However, often nodes have ongoing relationships to provide or receive resources from neighbors. In that case, the node that wants to receive can send a signal to the providing node for where, and when they need the previously-agreed-upon resources.
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[Kanbans](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanban) are well-known example of such mutual coordination signals. Kanbans are prototypically cards, but do not need to be cards. Another popular example is tote pans, where the receiving node sends a totepan labelled with the resource type and quantity to the providing node, who will fill it and send it back.
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Kanban-style signals work best in repetitive environments, where the neighboring nodes transfer the same resources frequently enough that a signal like a card or a labeled totepan would be understood.
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Electronic Offer and Request signals might be used more often for adhoc situations that might not be repeated. |