Easy to use tools that helps users find and track work that needs to be done increases the amount that gets done. (DC 2 CH2)

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

What a community does to engage its members and generate content 

Content, tasks and activities

Incentivizing or convincing users to contribute content on the platform. This can be showing them that the utility of adding content is greater than the cost of having to create it.

Encouraging contributions in online communities

Kraut, Robert E., and Paul Resnick. Building successful online communities: Evidence-based social design. MIT Press, 2012.

Building successful online communities: Evidence-based social design (Kraut and Resnick)

- Do users communicate about themselves (e.g. user profiles)

- Is content imported from outside, user generated or generated by its members? (or a combination)

- Are their welcoming activities and safe spaces to engage newcomers in?

- Are tasks independent or interdependent?

- Are the activities immersive and/or social?

Example of content, tasks and activities decisions in OCs

Users will have trouble knowing what needs to be done in a community, if the community never tells them. This is why platforms often adopt systems to show their contributors what is needed. It increases  the chance the community will provide them (DC1 CH2)

Providing users with a list of what needs to be done

Online communities can request specific contributions from their community members

Requesting contributions from community members

Motivators of individual effort path diagram

Posits that behaviors and actions are controlled by three main factors, Motivation, Ability, and Triggers. The theory suggests that the lack of any one of the three factors will hamper action.

Fogg Behavioral Model

- gamification systems
- social proof/influence
- social presence
- peer assessment
- goal setting
- comment/voting systems
- leadership type
- shared leadership

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