Salma Lalji

A00109916
BUSA 3455
Fall 2010

Research Topic
Topic
What makes online communities tick

Executive Summary
Online communities include everything from
discussion boards to massive multiplayer online
role-playing virtual realities games. Only some
online communities succeed, but majority fail. This
paper looks at what is the purpose of online
communities, why are they successful, and how to
measure their success, which adds value to the
business they serve. Conclusion is a successful
online community is the one that services the best
interests of its members and not its business goal –
profit.

Introduction

Communities are defined as a group of interactive

people sharing an environment. Traditionally the
environment was a geographically circumscribed
entity, such as neighborhoods, villages, etc.
However, the explosive diffusion of the Internet has
changed our ways of communication. Today in our
modern world, communities are no longer bounded
geographically! The Internet enables instant
information exchange and the constructions of
online communities, where people from all over the
world can provide support, share information, and
build friendship. These are communities of like-
minded users. The core of the Web today is its
members clustered to communicate together.
Historically bulletin board systems preceded the
Web by several years but what were they really
except a type of community? Real-time Internet
text – chat, yet just another form of community.
Today communities appear as a new concept is
really just a result of the evolution of the tools used
to create them. These tools have made
communities more interactive, easier to use and
administer, and eye-catching. However, expecting
to relax, sit back and watch the membership grow
simply by adding a forum application to a website
is false. So, this paper is going to provide valuable
insights into …
The reason for an online community to exist
What makes a community successful
How success is measured
What makes online communities fail – how to avoid
it.
Reference
Trent J. Spaulding, How can virtual communities create value for business? Electronic
Commerce Research and Applications Jan 2010 Vol9:1:38-49,

Evan Cook, Adding Value with Online Community: Listen to Webcast On-Demand, Social Media
Today, December 21, 2009