TribeCamp 2010 presentation

Can  your  tribe  survive?Some  observations  on  the  life  cycles  of  online  communities

Kris  M.  Markman,  Ph.D.University  of  Memphis

Tribe  Camp  Memphis  2010

What  is  a  community?

What  is  a  community?Is  it  a  place?  a  social  group?

What  is  a  community?Is  it  a  place?  a  social  group?

Researchers  have  identified  different  types  of  communities:

What  is  a  community?Is  it  a  place?  a  social  group?

Researchers  have  identified  different  types  of  communities:

communities  of  practice

What  is  a  community?Is  it  a  place?  a  social  group?

Researchers  have  identified  different  types  of  communities:

communities  of  practice

communities  of  interest

What  is  a  community?Is  it  a  place?  a  social  group?

Researchers  have  identified  different  types  of  communities:

communities  of  practice

communities  of  interest

communities  as  networks

What  is  a  community?Is  it  a  place?  a  social  group?

Researchers  have  identified  different  types  of  communities:

communities  of  practice

communities  of  interest

communities  as  networks

Communities  of  practice

Communities  of  practice

mutual  engagement

Communities  of  practice

mutual  engagement joint  enterprise

Communities  of  practice

mutual  engagement joint  enterprise

shared  repertoire

Communities  of  practice

mutual  engagement joint  enterprise

shared  repertoire

Communities  of  interest

Communities  of  interest

Communities  of  interest

Communities  of  interest

Differ  in  the  “style  by  which  they  are  imagined”

Communities  of  interest

Differ  in  the  “style  by  which  they  are  imagined”

Style  is  influenced  by

Communities  of  interest

Differ  in  the  “style  by  which  they  are  imagined”

Style  is  influenced  by

external  contexts

Communities  of  interest

Differ  in  the  “style  by  which  they  are  imagined”

Style  is  influenced  by

external  contexts

temporal  structure

Communities  of  interest

Differ  in  the  “style  by  which  they  are  imagined”

Style  is  influenced  by

external  contexts

temporal  structure

system  infrastructure

Communities  of  interest

Differ  in  the  “style  by  which  they  are  imagined”

Style  is  influenced  by

external  contexts

temporal  structure

system  infrastructure

participant  characteristics

Communities  as  networks

Communities  as  networks

Supportive,  sociable  relations  that  provide  a  

sense  of  belonging

Why  do  communities  (sometimes)  fail?

Why  do  communities  (sometimes)  fail?

Internet  is  not  inherently  democratic

Why  do  communities  (sometimes)  fail?

Internet  is  not  inherently  democratic

Issues  of  tangibility:  self,  space,  and  place

Why  do  communities  (sometimes)  fail?

Internet  is  not  inherently  democratic

Issues  of  tangibility:  self,  space,  and  place

Lack  of  authenticity  may  erode  trust

Why  do  communities  (sometimes)  fail?

Internet  is  not  inherently  democratic

Issues  of  tangibility:  self,  space,  and  place

Lack  of  authenticity  may  erode  trust

Conflicting/changing  values,  norms,  visions

Why  do  communities  (sometimes)  fail?

Internet  is  not  inherently  democratic

Issues  of  tangibility:  self,  space,  and  place

Lack  of  authenticity  may  erode  trust

Conflicting/changing  values,  norms,  visions

Object  of  interest  is  no  longer  interesting

Helping  communities  thrive

Helping  communities  thrive

Moderators/facilitators/coordinators

Helping  communities  thrive

Moderators/facilitators/coordinators

set  pace,  rules/norms,  boundaries

Helping  communities  thrive

Moderators/facilitators/coordinators

set  pace,  rules/norms,  boundaries

Small  group  of  active  contributors  (long  tail)

Helping  communities  thrive

Moderators/facilitators/coordinators

set  pace,  rules/norms,  boundaries

Small  group  of  active  contributors  (long  tail)

Sense  of  identity  (“we-­‐ness”)

Helping  communities  thrive

Moderators/facilitators/coordinators

set  pace,  rules/norms,  boundaries

Small  group  of  active  contributors  (long  tail)

Sense  of  identity  (“we-­‐ness”)

Uniqueness  of  contributions

Helping  communities  thrive

Moderators/facilitators/coordinators

set  pace,  rules/norms,  boundaries

Small  group  of  active  contributors  (long  tail)

Sense  of  identity  (“we-­‐ness”)

Uniqueness  of  contributions

Goals  and  co-­‐opetition

Thank  you!Contact:  k.markman@memphis.edu

Twitter:  @DiscourseMarker