What are the differences between commercial production and community produsage?

Although there are many differences between commercial production and community produsage, which will be explored further throughout this post, there is one primary point of difference to consider. Commercial production generates a finished product for distribution, which once completed, cannot be continuously improved upon without drastic changes (updates, new versions, product recalls, etc.). Users cannot be a part of this process in commercial production, except in the case of approaching producers with thoughts and concerns which may be taken into consideration with the next batch. Communication is primarily one-way with little-to-no interaction between producers and users.

Community produsage does not generate a product which is completed and unadaptable. Instead, what is created is like a living organism which adapts to it’s environment, is able to be manipulated, changed, added to and taken from. Blogs, Wikipedia, Forums/Discussions etc. all come under the community produsage banner, as once created, two-way communication allows the system to develop and be improved.

Community produsage is one of the outcomes that has stemmed from Web 2.0 which differs from Web 1.0 in it’s approach to user input and interaction.