Internal community
Definition
An internal community is a closed community used to help people in an organization communicate and collaborate.
The community will typically have a specific purpose within an organization. It could be to connect people within a team or department, or it could be to organize projects.
Example of an internal community
IBMs CSR Influencers Network is a group of IBM employees dedicated to making a social impact. The community helps people organize activities and also helps new people get involved in these programs.
How do you build an internal community?
The first step is to decide what you will use your community for. Having a tangible goal will be central to the success of your internal community. Then you can then choose a platform with features that suit your needs.
The good news is that internal communities are often easier to grow than external ones as you already have a group of people to invite.
Related terms
Gamification is when you add elements commonly found in games to other areas of life. A typical example is point scoring and prizes. The idea is that these elements can be powerful motivators.
A knowledge base is a software tool that stores and organizes all your company's documentation. These are powerful self-service resources that customers can use to find out how to use your product—helping you save on support costs.
