Alicia Iriberri
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Abstract
Using the information systems lifecycle as a unifying framework, we review online communities research and propose a sequence for incorporating success conditions during initiation and development to increase their chances of becoming a successful community, one in which members participate actively and develop lasting relationships. Online communities evolve following distinctive lifecycle stages and recommendations for success are more or less relevant depending on the developmental stage of the online community. In addition, the goal of the online community under study determines the components to include in the development of a successful online community. Online community builders and researchers will benefit from this review of the conditions that help online communities succeed.
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Index Terms
- A life-cycle perspective on online community success
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Vladimir Stantchev
Iriberri and Leroy present a review of current research on success factors of online communities, in the context of a life cycle that distinguishes the phases of inception, creation, growth, and maturity. Unsuccessful online communities typically reach the final phase-the death phase-during the growth phase, due in part to the fact that they do not focus on the success factors that this paper evaluates. The breadth of the research is impressive. It covers such disciplines as computer science, information systems, psychology, sociology, and management. The authors make an effort to identify relevant papers from several electronic databases that are representative of these disciplines. The research was conducted between 1993 and 2007, and the authors used the search terms "online communities" and "virtual communities." This is quite a pragmatic approach to identifying works, especially in the absence of a common classification. Iriberri and Leroy use both empirical and conceptual methods, with both quantitative and qualitative success metrics. In empirical research, the most common metrics are the volume of members' contribution and the quality of relationships. Quantitative metrics include the number of members, number of visits, number of posted messages, and the extent of contact between members. The most common qualitative metrics are member satisfaction and the quality of members' relationships. An aggregated view of success factors in the inception stage includes purpose, focus, and funds. Usability and reliability are important in the creation stage, and quality content and new user attraction are crucial in the growth stage. Success factors for the maturity stage include events and subgroups. The authors describe in detail the importance of these success factors for different types of communities, and they support their work with numerous related references. The paper is a must read for anyone who is interested in the seemingly random dynamics of online communities. The breadth and depth of the research offer readers an aggregated view that would otherwise take weeks to acquire. The paper is well written and readable, although readers are expected to have some previous knowledge in the relevant disciplines. Online Computing Reviews Service
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