In-class notes

Engagement, imagination, and alignment

Ren et al's common bond/common identity framework is basically an imagination form of belonging (in Wenger's terms). To imagine the set of people all having a certain set of characteristics with things in common.

Alignment means you take actions with others to advance the interests of the collective. You are aligned with a particular agenda (a task force?) but may not think of having common characteristics.

"The work of..." sections starting on p. 184 as a good place to clear up the confusion of the chapter. How does the work of creating identity through belonging (through identity and alignment) appear in Cool Running?

Implications for Cool Running

Explore in final paper:

• CR as primarily a community of engagement and imagination
• Stated differently: engagement and imagination as the primary reasons to belong to CR
• "Common purpose creates the we" (Paul's quote)