“Supporting informed participation requires processes that integrate individual and group knowledge through collaborative constructions” -Arias
To what extent users participate in an online community is largely determined by the structure of the digital environment and its ability to provide the user with activities that will allow them to fulfill their dual identity as both an individual and as member within a community.
“If people have the sense of autonomy, they are more likely to be motivated by things that are personally important to them, and less likely to be motivated by externally imposed rewards or threats (Sharp, Pocklington, Weindling 2002).”
The community manager must manage a carefully balanced mix of activities and content, which will foster motivation and social engagement, while at the same time, provide users with access to the information and knowledge that motivated them to initially join the community.
In short, users not only need to know the right steps to be successful in the collaboration process but must also discover their own motivations and feel confident in their own understanding to be a successful citizen of an online community.
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