Collective Intelligence

 I'm working through the Handbook and felt the urge to undertake some research into Collective Intelligence; and how online communities create partnerships and why. I began by asking: what is so compelling about being part and remaining a part of an online community? My simple answer was...

1. The urge to contribute to the community

2. the perception of benefiting from the community.

Then I thought about it some more...

You and I are bound together by a common interest or topic such as a hobby, profession, location or cause. We may have no pre established connections. We may well come from all walks of life. But everyday we're lost in a digital sea of information and conversations. But online communities can act as an anchor by personalizing or grouping all that content. 

Online communities have improved three major aspects of online life: communication, personal development and business.

Communication on the internet is often thought of as asynchronous but for the most part when we sit with our screens or smartphones we are here to consume and engage NOW. And not only that but conversation or knowledge is brought straight to our doorstep, and better than that, right infant of our noses! We don't even have to get up off our backsides to contribute or converse. So what do we gain? (I'm going to continue but please feel free to comment) There is immense value in common and simultaneous knowledge. It allows us to extract meaning from a conversation in order to learn and develop quickly. It provides a natural space for a two way conversation, which is the core of every healthy relationship. It has given us the ability to communicate more and on mass. But should we be questioning the quality of tis communication or correspondence? (Again feel free to comment)

Personal Development/Self expression: Abraham Maslow an American Psychologist argued that 

'humans have two distinct social needs: to be loved and accepted' Maslow (1943, 1954) 

In an online platform we are able to express our identities among like minded people and receive real and instant feedback (in the hope of gratification), this is one of the ways to satisfy our needs, thus receiving immediate validation and a sense of fulfillment. Here's a look at Abraham Marslow's Five Stage hierarchy of needs:







So all that time spent on Facebook, we just want to be loved and accepted ;) but you probably knew that already right!? Anyways....
Without a doubt we all have very different preferences, wants and needs but communities have the capacity to adapt or you quite simply have the choice. No one is telling you or forcing you to be a part of a group or cause. Thereby members can self actualize, resulting in an expression of identity, loyalty and deeper connections which inevitably lead to invaluable support. 

---Just as an aside I totally think I'm going to be interlinking the hierarchy stages to other aspects of my personal journey in this module. I feel like there's a relationship waiting to be unravelled---

Business: We live in a consumer age, so it has become pinnacle for a business/company to have involvement from the consumer. We can give immediate feedback (with so many places having instant support via chat and the ability to openly comment on products), which means they find out what people really think and want. The consumer is empowered and also becomes a part of the creative process. This in turn reduces costs, yet increases sales. It seems like a win win situation!
That was it in a nut shell. But this leads to the next big question; how has my professional field engaged with Web 2.0? What similarities if any, can I see between these findings and the professional network I work within? Would love to read some comments from you...and please feel free to share. Seem to be struggling with my online presence (ironically;))




References

Module 1 Handbook

Marslow's Heirachy of Needs: https://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html

Building a thriving community: https://khoros.com/blog/how-social-communities-social-networks-differ

Social Network vs. Online Community: What's the difference?: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/content/social-network-vs-online-community-what-difference

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