Exploring Sense of Community within an Online Healthcare Context

Volume: Part F1869

Pages: 79-95

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-63480-7_5

Abstract:

This paper argues that organisations considering corporate community involvement within online communities need to understanding how the notion of sense of community (SOC) is manifested and experienced in such contexts. The case of an online healthcare community hosted by a charitable institution in the UK is provided to illustrate and support this argument. The SOC construct as originally developed by McMillan and Chavis (1986) was adopted as a conceptual lens to explore experiences of members within an online forum. Data was mined from unstructured in-depth qualitative interviews conducted with eight participants who considered themselves as active members of this community. A thematic analysis generated three main themes which illustrated the four dimensions of COS as conceptualised by McMillan and Chavis (1986). Managerial implications for both community managers and CSR managers are discussed in light of these findings.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/33314/

Source: Scopus

Exploring Sense of Community within an Online Healthcare Context

Authors: Ramjaun, T.

Pages: 79-95

ISBN: 978-3-319-63479-1

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-63480-7_5

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/33314/

Source: Web of Science (Lite)

Exploring sense of community within an online healthcare context

Authors: Ramjaun, T.

Editors: Grigore, G., Stancu, A. and McQueen, D.

Volume: Palgrave Studies in Governance, Leadership & Responsiblity

Pages: 79-95

Publisher: Springer

ISBN: 9783319634807

Abstract:

This paper argues that organisations considering corporate community involvement within online communities need to understanding how the notion of sense of community (SOC) is manifested and experienced within such stakeholder groups. This is based on the assumption that CCI is a form of corporate social responsibility that goes beyond the mere funding of charitable activities but involves a deeper involvement and participation within the life of the community (Moon and Muthuri 2006). Hence, it is expected that the corporation not only allocates significant amount of time and resources to such involvement (Yekini et al. 2017), but also implies a more in-depth understanding of the community itself. Therefore, this paper argues that in order for CSR managers to better identify and engage with relevant online communities, they need to be able to understand and apply the notion SOC within an online context. The case of an online healthcare community, hosted by a charitable institution in the UK, is presented to illustrate and support this argument.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/33314/

https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-63480-7_5

Source: Manual

Exploring sense of community within an online healthcare context

Authors: Ramjaun, T.R.

Editors: Grigore, G., Stancu, A. and McQueen, D.

Pages: 79-95

Publisher: Springer

ISBN: 9783319634807

Abstract:

This paper argues that organisations considering corporate community involvement within online communities need to understanding how the notion of sense of community (SOC) is manifested and experienced within such stakeholder groups. This is based on the assumption that CCI is a form of corporate social responsibility that goes beyond the mere funding of charitable activities but involves a deeper involvement and participation within the life of the community (Moon and Muthuri 2006). Hence, it is expected that the corporation not only allocates significant amount of time and resources to such involvement (Yekini et al. 2017), but also implies a more in-depth understanding of the community itself. Therefore, this paper argues that in order for CSR managers to better identify and engage with relevant online communities, they need to be able to understand and apply the notion SOC within an online context. The case of an online healthcare community, hosted by a charitable institution in the UK, is presented to illustrate and support this argument.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/33314/

https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-63480-7_5

Source: BURO EPrints