ABSTRACT
This chapter explores few questions to provide guidance on developing wise communities online, an integral component of the WisCom framework: What do we mean by community? How is a community different from a group? How is an online community different from an offline one? How does culture impact community? What are the characteristics of a wisdom community? How do we build and maintain an online community? It begins by examining the concept of community. Most dictionary definitions of community refer to a place, a geographic location, or a group where people interact and engage with one another. In defining communities online, Watson points out that community implies a basic connection to the definition of communication: "The term 'community' is clearly related to 'communication' as both stem from the Latin root communis, meaning common". Diversity anchors a wisdom community. "Social presence and identity are closely intertwined", as identity conveys the unique characteristics communicated by a person's presence.
