9APRIL 2021actually solve the problem. Building empathy for the user will enable you to solve for the highs and lows a person may experience. Keep in mind, the value of your design will be determined by the people who are affected by it. 5. No two communities or networks are the sameWhen managing an online community, it's crucial to remember that no two communities or networks are the same. Start by understanding the goals of the group to identify the most productive ways to interact. If the goal of the group is to engage regularly to learn and advance a shared practice, consider formalizing a community of practice (Wenger, 2010). If the group prefers to interact in a more informal and less structured way, think about best practices for engaging networks. With the goal in mind, in addition to the empathy for the user you've already built, explore various design models, such as "working out loud", liberating structures, or crowdsourcing and idea management (Desai et al., 2020). Each community or network is special in their own unique way; the fun part is designing ways for participants to engage and learn together.6. Create the conditions that motivate people to shareHave you ever considered why you scroll through some digital communities as an observer and what motivates you to post and share in others? When designing digital communities, there are four key motivational considerations; the nature of the online community, the characteristics and desires of the individuals, the level of commitment of the group, and the quality requirements of the platform (Sun et al., 2014). With these in mind, think about how you might create an environment that motivates "lurkers" to share. A great place to start is by modeling the behavior you want to see from others.the relationship between a digital tool and the person using it (Treem & Leonardi, 2012). For example, DWT affords users the ability to search, review, and interact with content, in its original form, beyond the time of the initial post, which is known as persistence (Treem & Leonardi, 2012). In practice, this means a new employee can learn by simply reviewing a conversation had between teammates in Webex Teams or a project manager can review previous project iterations archived in Sharepoint. Assessing how an individual interacts with the technology is a much more strategic approach than focusing on features. 3. Make the most out of social tools In a society that is increasingly moving towards web-based interactions and remote work, DWT will become even more important across organizations. Whether you're working with an already existing platform or rolling out a new one, there are a few simple ways to capitalize on social tools. It's important to remember that not everyone knows how to use the DWT and how they'll benefit from interacting with the tool. Defining the purpose, strengthening the social awareness, communicating the rules of conduct, and leading by example are practical ways to ensure the organization is getting the most out of digital social tools (Leonardi & Neeley, 2017). From a small team/community perspective 4. Start by building empathy for the userRegardless of the design you're trying to create, start by intimately understanding the experience of the user. Consider what they'll be doing, thinking, and feeling throughout the process. In a fast-paced and results driven environment, it's enticing to jump straight to a solution. When you start with a solution, you run the risk of designing a program that doesn't ITO
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