Etiquette, Empathy and Trust in Communities of Practice: Stepping-Stones to Social Capital

Abstract: Creating online communities of practice involves much more than creating software. Software houses online communities of practice activities but social interactions also depend on who is involved, what their goals are, their personalities and the community’s norms and policies. By paying attention to these sociability issues, community members can influence how their community develops. Norms that lead to good online etiquette are a stepping-stone to social capital.