Antecedents Of Successful Web Based Communities For Disabled Citizens

Abstract

In this period of constrained economic conditions, this study initiates an analysis of the critical success factors in the implementation of World Wide Web-based communities in the non-profit sector, focusing on communities of challenged citizens who have mental health conditions in the City of New York.  Non-profit organizations in New York depend ever more upon the technology of the Web to help disabled members in the city, as the disruption from the September 11 disaster continues to impact social services. Though investment in technology is limited in the non-profit sector, the preliminary analysis of this study imputes that implementation of community networks that service rehabilitating members of society is facilitated by distinct enabling success factors of cohesion, effectiveness, help, language, relationship and self-regulation in the innovation of the supporting Web sites.  The analysis contributes insight into the dynamics of communities on the Web that is applicable in an international context.  This study furnishes a new framework to research Web-based communities in the non-profit sector.