Panteli, Niki, and Anu Sivunen. "“I Am Your Fan; Bookmarked!” Members’ Identification Development in Founder-Led Online Communities." Journal of the Association for Information Systems 20.6 (2019).

This research explores the evolution of member identification within a founder-led online community (OC) through a longitudinal case study. Initially, members were drawn to the OC due to their affective and cognitive connections with its reputable founder. Over time, their sense of belonging shifted towards identification formed through social interactions with fellow members. The study highlights the crucial role of the founder's communication behavior in fostering an environment that not only engaged members but also facilitated the emergence of new leaders, contributing to the understanding of identification, emergent leadership, and the dynamics of founder-led OCs.