Hew, Khe Foon. "Determinants of success for online communities: an analysis of three communities in terms of members' perceived professional development." Behaviour & Information Technology 28.5 (2009): 433-445.

This qualitative case study explores the determinants of success in online communities with a focus on members' perceived professional development, diverging from the traditional member loyalty perspective. Through online observation and interviews across three distinct communities (nurses, web developers, and literacy educators), the research identifies seven key success factors: willingness to share knowledge, high-quality content, diversity of views, technology, relevant discussions, a respectful environment, and rapid responses to queries. The study also uncovers contributing factors to these determinants, offering insights and recommendations for future research.