Increasing user value through professional identity profiles, profile-based connection agents and games

Encouraging users of online communities to complete, maintain and improve their electronic profiles is a challenging task. Only if users see real value for themselves will they invest their time and energy in this activity, and become active contributing members of the online community. In this article we present some improvements to profiles and knowledge managementsystems specialized in lifelong learning and career development that we believe are necessary in order to increase user value and motivation. First, we reflect on the relevant information that should be provided in a 'professional identity' profile in order to increase user value in the area of career development. We show that social interaction, in addition to solitary introspection, is necessary to provide users with the knowledge they need to make a career change. We then report on our exploration of agents and games can help individuals get valuable feedback about their profiles, critically re-assess and redefine their lifelong learning and career development objectives and plans, and identify relevant users to connect with in order to exchange knowledge