Includes bibliographical references (p. 221-224) and index.

Pt. I. the real value of virtual communities. Ch. 1. the race belongs to the swift. Ch. 2. reversing markets: how customers gain. Ch. 3. the new economics of virtual communities. Ch. 4. the shape of things to come -- Pt. II. building a virtual community. Ch. 5. choosing the way in. Ch. 6. laying the foundation: getting to critical mass. Ch. 7. the gardener's touch: managing organic growth. Ch. 8. equipping the community: choosing the right technology -- Pt. III. positioning to win the broader game. Ch. 9. rethinking functional management. Ch. 10. reshaping markets and organizations -- management agenda.

This Book is the Manifesto for a new generation of competitors who want to reap the elusive rewards of the on-line economy. Like no book, Net Gain identifies where the real value lies on the Internet and on other networks. It is the first to give you the strategic tools for determining how much your company will need to invest - and how much and where it stands to gain - by building a successful virtual community.

From the offerings of commercial on-line services like the Motley Fool investment community to Internet communities of book lovers who gather a Amazon.com, Net Gain offers real-world scenarios and lessons for building value and creating competitive advantage. The authors - on the cutting edge of the on-line economy as leaders of McKinsey & Company's multimedia practiceexplain why some ventures - like Apple's on-line service, e-World - failed and why the Walt Disney Company cannot afford not to organize an on-line community that targets children. They suggest that to compete in the on-line economy, you must establish an entirely new organizational mindset toward product development, marketing, customer service, and distribution and rethink your company's relationships to customers, suppliers, and competitors.