It is easy to think about online community from the technical point of view. Of course Internet access and the appropriate software are critical. But there are many more factors that influence the success of an online community. Most of them are non-technical, but often less apparent. Think of an iceberg. Only a small part shows above the water. In online communities: • the tools and technology are the top of the iceberg; and • the social/cultural, and organizational/environmental factors are the bigger, unseen piece “below the visible water line.
