In his contribution to the IAOC blog last week (March 15, 16 and 17), Todd Van Hoosear discussed a model of "lean communication" based on the same kind of network that engineers talk about when delivering wireless signal.

Continuing the thread, Steve King went on to discuss the increasing importance of product mavens, pointing at the example of the "Stroller Queen" -- the LA-based housewife who, by her continual, impassioned blogging, has established herself as the nation's most trusted expert on baby strollers.

Since it's impossible to carry on a coherent discussion in a blog over several days, we'll move the discussion portion of these proceedings into a user-friendly wiki.

We've also invited a third "panelist" to join us: Giovanni Rodriguez, executive vice president with Eastwick Communications, which announced recently their intent to provide services and technology to organizations that are looking to integrate new-media tools into their communication programs.

"We see that we can accomplish more as a team, and that as wikkers we are better equipped to tap the "wisdom of crowds" for the benefit of our clients and the various communities -- internal and external -- that shape their identity in the marketplace," Eastwick said.

That's an interesting statement that leads me to wonder: Is this essentially what our search for a new communications model boils down to -- a reliable and tested means for tapping the wisdom of crowds?