Like other strategic assets, communities benefit from portfolio approaches.
Core vs. Peripheral Communities
Not all communities deserve equal investment. Portfolio thinking optimizes allocation.
George's community portfolio: - Core (20%): Deep involvement, leadership roles - Active (30%): Regular participation, project involvement - Monitoring (30%): Occasional engagement, opportunity watching - Experimental (20%): New communities, testing value
This allocation balanced depth with breadth.
Geographic Community Distribution
Distributed communities provide resilience and opportunity multiplication.
Helen's geographic strategy: - Local: Daily support and resources - Regional: Industry connections and partnerships - National: Policy influence and market access - Global: Innovation exposure and arbitrage
Each layer served different strategic purposes.
Lifecycle Community Management
Communities have lifecycles. Strategic participation adapts to lifecycle stages.
Ian's lifecycle approach: - Formation: High involvement, shape culture - Growth: Build relationships, capture value - Maturity: Maintain position, mentor others - Decline: Graceful exit, preserve relationships - Renewal: Selective re-engagement if transformed
This approach maximized value across community evolution.