10 Principles for Successful Communities

<p>From Stan Garfield's Communities Manifesto:</p>

<p style="direction: inherit; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0in;">This document defines and describes 10 principles for successful communities.  It is based on my experience in creating, leading, and managing communities and communities programs, both inside and outside of organizations.</p>

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<div class="western" style="direction: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; font-family: Verdana;"><strong>10 Principles</strong></div>

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<li style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Communities should be<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong>independent of organization structure</strong>; they are based on what members want to interact on.</li>

<div class="western" style="direction: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; font-family: Verdana;">Communities are different from teams; they are<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong>based on topics, not on assignments.</strong></div>

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<div class="western" style="direction: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; font-family: Verdana;">Communities are not sites, team spaces, blogs or wikis; they are<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong>people who choose to interact.</strong></div>

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<div class="western" style="direction: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; font-family: Verdana;">Community<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong>leadership and membership should be voluntary</strong>; you can suggest that people join, but should not force them to.</div>

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<div class="western" style="direction: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; font-family: Verdana;">Communities should<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong>span boundaries</strong>; they should cross functions, organizations, and geographic locations.</div>

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<div class="western" style="direction: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; font-family: Verdana;"><strong>Minimize redundancy</strong><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>in communities; before creating a new one, check if an existing community already addresses the topic.</div>

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<div class="western" style="direction: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; font-family: Verdana;">Communities need a<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong>critical mass</strong><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>of members; take steps to build membership.</div>

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<div class="western" style="direction: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; font-family: Verdana;">Communities should start with as<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong>broad a scope as is reasonable</strong>; separate communities can be spun off if warranted.</div>

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<div class="western" style="direction: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; font-family: Verdana;">Communities need to be<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong>actively nurtured</strong>; community leaders need to create, build, and sustain communities.</div>

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<div class="western" style="direction: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; font-family: Verdana;">Communities can be created, led, and supported using TARGETs:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong>Types, Activities, Requirements, Goals, Expectations, Tools.</strong></div>

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