Towards a Research Agenda for VirtualCommunities

The Internet has spurred a phenomenal growth of virtual communities (VC). VCs can range fromsimple information exchange based forums to more complex networks supporting new productdevelopment. For example, communities of interest based forums such as investment-relatedVirtual Communities bring together individuals interested in exchanging information aboutstocks while online production communities such as open source development communities focuson developing a new product. This Mini-track is designed to focus on issues relevant to thedesign, management and impact of VCs.[...]