Title: Making the community a hospitable place – identity, strong bounds and self-organisation in web-based communities

Authors: Monique Janneck, Matthias Finck

Addresses: University of Hamburg, Department of Informatics, Vogt-Koelln-Str. 30, 22527 Hamburg, Germany. ' University of Hamburg, Department of Informatics, Vogt-Koelln-Str. 30, 22527 Hamburg, Germany

Abstract: Web-based communities rely on technology use, but supplying technology does not automatically lead to its use: virtual communities need a |virtual home| in order to exist. What measures can be taken to make a technical platform a well-frequented and |hospitable| place? We present two case studies of web-based communities, which are both characterised by strong bounds and a high degree of self-organisation. Results show that processes of identity building among community members play a major role regarding their technology adoption and use. To analyse these processes, we draw on the |classical| social psychological approach of social identity as a new view on web-based communities. We show that the development of a common identity among members is a crucial agent of successful technology use in self-organised communities. Based on our findings, we propose measures to foster identity and hospitality in web-based communities.

Keywords: hosting; social identity; web based communities; self-organisation; virtual communities; technology adoption; technology use; hospitality.

DOI: 10.1504/IJWBC.2006.011770

International Journal of Web Based Communities, 2006 Vol.2 No.4, pp.458 - 473

Published online: 20 Dec 2006 *

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