Chapter 1: Introduction -- I. Why are virtual communities and social networks so popular? -- II. History of virtual communities (spans 30 years -- what is fad and what is not) -- III. Business justification for implementing virtual communities -- IV. Differences between "adhocracy," a "forum," a "group," a "virtual team," a "social network," and a "virtual community"? People are often sloppy with their use of these terms, which creates problems for designers. -- Chapter 2: What are the factors needed for sustainable online communities? -- I. What is a "heuristic" and why do we need one? -- II. RIBS theory/process -- Chapter 3: Remuneration -- I. What is "remuneration"? -- II. Case studies / popular examples? -- III. What are some best practice strategies for ensuring remuneration is functioning? -- Chapter 4: Influence -- I. What is "influence"? -- II. Case studies / popular examples? -- III. Best practice strategies for ensuring influence is functioning? -- Chapter 5: Belonging -- I. What is "belonging"? -- II. Case studies / popular examples? -- III. Best practice strategies for ensuring remuneration is functioning? -- Chapter 6: Significance -- I. What is "significance"? -- II. Case studies / popular examples? -- III. Best practice strategies for ensuring significance is functioning? -- Chapter 7: Conclusion -- I. Summative discussion - lessons learned and how to apply them to designers' work -- II. How RIBS can be used to think about designing for emerging media and delivery systems-particularly those involving mobile computing and video -- III. RIBS' potential for the future of virtual community and social interface design.

Summary: Social networks and online communities are reshaping the way people communicate, both in their personal and professional lives. What makes some succeed and others fail? What draws a user in? What makes them join? What keeps them coming back? Entrepreneurs and businesses are turning to user experience practitioners to figure this out. Though they are well-equipped to evaluate and create a variety of interfaces, social networks require a different set of design principles and ways of thinking about the user in order to be successful. Design to Thrive presents tried and tested design methodologies, based on the author's decades of research, to ensure successful and sustainable online communities -- whether a wiki for employees to share procedures and best practices or for the next Facebook. The book describes four criteria, called "RIBS," which are necessary to the design of a successful and sustainable online community. These concepts provide designers with the tools they need to generate informed creative and productive design ideas, to think proactively about the communities they are building or maintaining, and to design communities that encourage users to actively contribute. Provides essential tools to create thriving social networks, helping designers to avoid common pitfalls, avoid costly mistakes, and to ensure that communities meet client needs Contains real world stories from popular, well known communities to illustrate how the concepts work Features a companion online network that employs the techniques outlined in the book.

No physical items for this record

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Social networks and online communities are reshaping the way people communicate, both in their personal and professional lives. What makes some succeed and others fail? What draws a user in? What makes them join? What keeps them coming back? Entrepreneurs and businesses are turning to user experience practitioners to figure this out. Though they are well-equipped to evaluate and create a variety of interfaces, social networks require a different set of design principles and ways of thinking about the user in order to be successful. Design to Thrive presents tried and tested design methodologies, based on the author's decades of research, to ensure successful and sustainable online communities -- whether a wiki for employees to share procedures and best practices or for the next Facebook. The book describes four criteria, called "RIBS," which are necessary to the design of a successful and sustainable online community. These concepts provide designers with the tools they need to generate informed creative and productive design ideas, to think proactively about the communities they are building or maintaining, and to design communities that encourage users to actively contribute.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Electronic reproduction. Amsterdam : Elsevier Science & Technology, 2010. Mode of access: World Wide Web. System requirements: Web browser. Title from title screen (viewed on Apr. 28, 2010). Access may be restricted to users at subscribing institutions.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

Foreword (p. ix)
Acknowledgments (p. xi)
Chapter 1 Why Design to Thrive?
Why? (p. 1)
Buzz-Why Should You Be Interested? (p. 1)
What Experience Has Taught Me (p. 2)
Five Types of Online Groups Clients Seek (p. 4)
Technological Testosterone Poisoning (p. 6)
RIBS: The Four Elements Necessary for Long-Term Success (p. 7)
What Are Ribs Good for? (p. 8)
Works Cited (p. 9)
Chapter 2 The Nature of the Beasts
What Are We Talking About? (p. 11)
Synopsis (p. 11)
What Is a Social Network (Compared to an Online Community)? (p. 12)
What Is an Online Community (Compared to Lists, Discussion Groups, or Forums)? (p. 22)
Conclusion (p. 26)
Works Cited (p. 27)
Chapter 3 Why Invest in Social Networks and Online Communities
What Are These Systems Good For? (p. 29)
Synopsis (p. 29)
Why Build Social Networks and Communities? (p. 29)
Conclusion (p. 41)
Works Cited (p. 41)
Chapter 4 Remuneration
Crafting Meaningful Social Experiences (p. 43)
Synopsis (p. 43)
Introduction (p. 44)
Remuneration as User Experience (p. 45)
Remuneration Does Not Equal Functionality or the Business Model (p. 47)
Be Responsible for the User Experience (p. 49)
Scratching the Sociability Itch (p. 51)
Putting "Business before Pleasure" (p. 53)
What Is Remuneration? (p. 54)
Techniques (p. 57)
1 Make The Text Editor Fun; Add Emoticons (p. 58)
2 Use a Subscription Application Form (p. 61)
3 Mentors Teach (p. 62)
4 Seed the Discussion (p. 63)
5 Use Stars on Messages to show Memberships Contribution Levels (p. 65)
6 Rank the Value of Members' Messages (p. 66)
7 Remove the Fear Factor by Providing Examples of How to Participate (p. 68)
8 Create a Safe Environment by Sending out "Tickle" Messages (p. 70)
9 Create a Regular Event (p. 71)
10 Don't Automatically Archive (p. 73)
11 Discourage Attempts to Send Conversations to Other Blogs, Websites, Discussion Groups (p. 75)
12 Ban Redistribution Servers and Cross-Postings (p. 76)
Conclusion (p. 77)
Works Cited (p. 78)
Chapter 5 Influence
Differences in Members' Social Experience Needs (p. 81)
Synopsis (p. 81)
Introduction (p. 82)
The Importance of Influence (p. 82)
The Consequence of Disallowing Influence (p. 83)
Play (p. 84)
Types of Members and Need for Influence (p. 85)
Techniques (p. 102)
1 Set Up an Advisory Council (p. 103)
2 Respond to Every Concern Without "Administrivia" (p. 106)
3 Show the Number of Times that a Message has been Viewed (p. 107)
4 Have a "Report-a-Problem" on Every Page of the Site (p. 109)
5 Include in Your Application Why They Want to Join (p. 110)
6 Have Exit Surveys (p. 111)
7 Run Periodic Surveys (p. 112)
8 Allow Avatars (p. 113)
9 Require Profiles (p. 115)
10 Create a Visitor's Center (p. 117)
11 Put Novices with Novices (p. 117)
12 Give Elders Opportunities (p. 118)
13 Demand Respect (p. 118)
14 Publish and Enforce Safety Policies (p. 121)
Conclusion (p. 127)
Works Cited (p. 127)
Chapter 6 Belonging
Designing the Experience of Belonging (p. 129)
Synopsis (p. 129)
Introduction (p. 130)
Initiation Rituals (p. 130)
Stories of Origin (p. 131)
Leveling Up Rituals (p. 135)
Mythologies (p. 138)
Symbols and Codes (p. 140)
Protocols, Routines, and Schemas (p. 141)
Techniques (p. 144)
1 Create and Distribute a Story of Origin (p. 144)
2 Create an Initiation Ritual (p. 145)
3 Encourage Your Leaders and Elders to Share Mythologies (p. 146)
4 Encourage Members to Share Myths and Stories About Themselves (p. 148)
5 Create Leveling Up Ceremonies (p. 152)
6 Establish Routines and Protocols (p. 154)
7 Establish Symbols, Colors, and Visual Identities (p. 157)
8 Use an Application for Membership as an Initiation Ritual (p. 162)
Conclusion (p. 165)
Works Cited (p. 165)
Chapter 7 Significance
Building Gravitas, Brand, and Recognition (p. 167)
Synopsis (p. 167)
Introduction (p. 168)
The Paradox of Exclusivity (p. 168)
Acquiring "Social Capital" and Significance (p. 170)
Quality vs Quantity (p. 173)
Using Nodes and Connectors to Start the Conversation (p. 173)
Deciding How to Contact Influential (p. 176)
Techniques (p. 186)
1 Provide a Story that Shares a Vision (p. 187)
2 List Members' Accomplishments (p. 188)
3 Participate in influential Communities to Create Trails Back to Yours (p. 188)
4 Build Your Social Network or Community in a Custom Space (p. 189)
5 Make Connections with Other Leaders in Social Media (p. 190)
6 Celebrate Celebrities (p. 191)
7 Create a Contest, Game, or Video (p. 193)
8 Mobilize your Existing Members (p. 193)
Conclusion (p. 196)
Works Cited (p. 196)
Chapter 8 Technology Changes Rapidly; Humans Don't
How Lessons from Communication Technologies of the Past Can Inform Our Future (p. 199)
Synopsis (p. 199)
The Power of Social Media to Effect Change (p. 200)
Technology Changes Rapidly; People Don't (p. 205)
Looking Backward to Look Ahead (p. 207)
The Origins of Copyrights (p. 209)
The Dilemma of Control vs Creativity (p. 215)
Investing in Future Literacies (p. 219)
Decision-Making Contexts will Dominate the Marketplace (p. 221)
Works Cited (p. 223)
Index (p. 225)

Author notes provided by Syndetics

With over 30 years of experience researching and effectively applying social networks. Tharon W. Howard is a nationally recognized leader in the field. He is a professor at Clemson University where he teaches in the doctoral program in Rhetoric(s), Communication, and Information Design and the Master of Arts in Professional Communication program. As director of the Clemson University Usability Testing Facility, he has conducted sponsored research aimed at improving and creating new software interfaces, online document designs, and information architectures for clients including IBM, NCR Corp. ATT, and Time-Warner. Howard is the author of A Rhetoric of Electronic communities. Coauthor of Visual Communication: A Writer's Guide, and coeditor of Electronic Networks: Crossing Boundaries and Crating communities.