Do Communities Disband or Fail?
I believe most communities “disband” because they “fail” to actively listen to the people for whom the group is intended. I don’t think most describe this in terms of “disbanding” when the community stops meeting. Instead people share their experiences and opinions about why the group failed: “It was good for the first few meetings, but then the topics got stale”; “There wasn’t an opportunity to share in the discussions”; “It’s the same people at every event”; and the list goes on.
I think if community leaders were open to listening to feedback from their members there would be a focus on how to continually improve the process; helping those within the community feel as though they are a part of the community, rather than simply a member of it.
The reason this doesn’t happen, quite simply, is because it’s hard. It takes far more energy to continually engage a community, regardless of its size, about making improvements, than it does for a few people to decide what’s most important and push on, regardless.
We live in the Information Age. Think about this in the broadest context you can imagine. We have at our disposal, the knowledge and experiences of millions of people around the world at our finger tips. There is literally nothing that you can’t learn about if you’re motivated!
I had the pleasure of meeting some of the most innovative and thought provoking people in the fields of Information Architecture, User Experience, Interaction Design, and Human Factors last year.
I hope to make even greater strides in 2009!
I have been in discussions with various members of the Information Architecture Institute; Interaction Design Association; Human Factors communities; and of course, Boxes and Arrows about how we can enable more people around the world to share their ideas and experiences. As we get closer to working out these details, I’ll be sure to share with everyone!
Your post got me thinking about the reasons I stop participating in various communities. The reality for me is that I’ll attend events, participate in discussion, and share expertise when it’s convenient for me. Accessibility (scheduling and location) is as important to me as the focus of the community.
Web communities have the benefit of being more available, and therfore flexible but lack the intimacy of meeting in person. In-person communities connect less frequently, locations may vary, and cost can sometimes be a barrier.
You are absolutely right that community leaders need to listen to feedback. This should be ongoing and fluid, allowing for flexibility and change to adapt to the needs of community participants. As community participates rotate in and out, the needs will differ.
All great points Samantha! :-)
I think we need to move beyond email discussion lists and work at connecting with people in a more human way.
This can be done with technology including video discussions and even something as simple, yet powerful, as twitter.
The problem I have with technology as being the sole connections for communities is that it’s no substitute for face-to-face interactions. I agree with your comment about timing and accessibility.
My argument is if a community strives to create something remarkable for every face-to-face event, motivation and accessibility would be less of a factor than the excitement about attending the event, itself.
Either way, lots of challenges and opportunities in the years ahead! :-)