Communities
Communities are groups of people associated by having something in common. Communities may share common attributes, culture, leaders, processes, laws, rules and a code of what is accepted. The people within the community may find it easier to relate to others within the community than those outside the community.
Communities may influence people's decisions and/or potentially impact the enablement of an eDream. People's desire to be accepted, belong and feel like they are part of something can result in communities having significant influence over an individual's actions. People may make decisions to improve their position in the community or to protect how they are perceived by others within the community. People outside the community may struggle to relate, be dismissed as an outsider or even be considered a threat to the community.
The successful enablement of an eDream may require understanding:
- one or more communities
- what it may feel like having the attributes people in the community have in common
- how people relate and act within the community and to people outside the community
- which communities may possibly influence each stakeholder
- the role of the stakeholder in the community and how it may influence their decisions
Everything big happens first in a small community. Facebook began with Harvard students, PayPal began with people on eBay needing to send money online. It can be a community like Silicon Valley that creates culture that almost anything is possible.
Communities Insight helps to understand which communities are required to make an eDream happen. It offers insight into how people like Jeff Bezos learned about the book communities when pursuing his big idea which led to the creation of Amazon.com.
Communities is a component of Enablement.
Contents
Industrial
Industrial communities are the people that work with or within an industry. Industrial communities often share common culture, leaders, rules (laws), protocols and communication.
Organizations
Organizations are Communities that are legal entities organized around economic and not-for profit activities. Organizations have a mission, leadership, a common culture and unique nuances in the way they operate.
Geographic
Geographic communities have a common physical location like a country, state, city, region, town, neighborhood or even a street.
Cultural or Social
Cultural or Social communities are people that have a common interest (i.e., hiking) or a culture (i.e., ethnic, religious). A culture is a learned behavior that is shared by a group of people that can provide forces that encourage or resist change.
Demographic
A Demographic is people that can have a common characteristic like age, gender, medical condition, ethnicity, language, home ownership, employment status.
Perspectives
Perspective are people that relate by sharing a common belief such as religion, politics, activism or lifestyle.
Social Circles
Social circles are communities that surround an individual such as a family, friends, colleagues (co-workers), classmates (alumni) and activities (golf or bowling league).
