# Characteristics of an open data user community

Our working definition of an open data user community is:

> A community of people which supports the use of open data through a common purpose.

We have observed three dimensions that seem to be of critical importance to ensuring that a community runs sustainably and achieves its intended impact: a common purpose; clear enablers of the community structure; and the collaborative method(s) that communities use to work together.

<figure><img src="https://242954767-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fpb6xDffhgi9f80ZORaUG%2Fuploads%2FZrvkxx99CeAwnpWoqkyg%2FODI-MeaningfulEngagmentWithDataCommunities.png?alt=media&#x26;token=697d13d7-28ef-48b0-9819-190ce97138cb" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

We will unpick each of these characteristics in this next section.
