• Journal of Information Technology Services
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.71-86
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• 2014

This study investigated knowledge browsing behavior as the factor affecting the increase of knowledge sharing intention. To conduct this study in the specific context of knowledge seeking and sharing behavior of virtual community members, literature on knowledge seeking behavior, meta-knowledge, and knowledge sharing intention was reviewed. Structural Equation Modeling was conducted to analyze survey data to test the research model of this study. The result showed that knowledge browsing have positive effects on creating of virtual community members' subject knowledge and meta-knowledge, which, in turn, affected positively their knowledge sharing intention. One of the main contributions of this study is that knowledge seeking behavior influence one's knowledge sharing intention in a virtual community. Organization managers should consider knowledge seeking behavior as not only a self-interested, consuming activity, but also a productive one through its function of constructing subject knowledge and meta-knowledge.

• Journal of Information Technology Services
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.191-208
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• 2018

This study explores the role of knowledge sharing activities among team members and performance in R&D setting. Knowledge sharing activities are classified into two : Knowledge sharing activity within/outside team. And the relationships between the knowledge activities and R&D performance are also examined according to three R&D stages : basic, applied, and developmental research. A empirical study was conducted at a research institute of large company that leads the advanced research and development of the domestic chemical industry. Data was collected 292 copies out of 500 copies (Response rate 58.4%). The result indicated that knowledge sharing within and outside the team has a positive effect on R&D Performance. In particular, knowledge sharing within the team has a greater effect on R&D outcomes in basic research stage. Knowledge sharing outside the team has a greater effect on R&D outcomes in the development research stage. In the R&D organization, it is important that members of the team are well-connected and understanding each other, but they should encourage positive relationships with external members of the team. Depending on the R&D field of the team, the basic research field should concentrate more on knowledge sharing within the team, while the development research field should focus more on knowledge sharing outside the team.

• Knowledge Management Research
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.1-16
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• 2012

Nowadays, many first-time Internet users start off heavily using SNSs (Social Network Sites), such as Cyworld, Facebook, and Twitter. The reason for the growth of SNS use is closely related to the various services of gaming, playing, using entertainment items, sharing knowledge etc., provided by the SNS; technically, the most important of the services provided would be the behavior of sharing knowledge among people connected and networked in the site. In sum, we assume that the users may communicate well with each other and pay attention to building a close social network using the abovementioned activities. However, researchers have just begun to focus on the issues explaining why Internet users rush into SNSs and enjoy their time there. Therefore, we investigated the reasons for posting and sharing knowledge voluntarily on the SNS and how others respond to the posted knowledge and are actually affected by the behavior. We applied social identity theory and social capital theory in this study to find which network externalities in SNSs may affect online identity-based attachment and cause them to produce a knowledge sharing generation. We found that people's online identity in SNSs is closely related to and influences knowledge sharing. This empirical study resulted in the importance of social relations in SNSs, which leads to sharing knowledge.

• Journal of Information Technology Services
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.95-115
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• 2019

In recent years, social media that has emerged with the development of network technology has changed the channels of information dissemination. The social Q&A community is a platform for knowledge-sharing activities in a question-and-answer manner based on Web 2.0. In knowledge-sharing activities, valuable new knowledge continues to be produced and will surely bring great benefits to individuals or businesses. In the social Q&A community, the user's subjective factors play a crucial role in influencing the user's continued use and participation in knowledge-sharing activities. In order for users to actively participate in knowledge-sharing activities in the community, it needs to grasp their subjective ideas. This study explores the issue of sharing knowledge by users of the social Q&A community "Zhihu", or how to drive community revitalization efforts from these. The three factors self-efficacy, self-development motivation, and social comparison tendencies were derived, and identify their relationship with knowledge-sharing activities and community-boosting efforts through empirical analysis. In addition, the influence of knowledge acquisition on knowledge provision was investigated through sense of reciprocity. Implications of the study findings and the future research directions were also discussed.

• Journal of Information Technology Services
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.173-193
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• 2016

Start-ups do not have enough resources such as financial capital and established customer base. Knowledge base of start-up team members is the crucial and unrivaled resource. This study tries to explicate the knowledge sharing process occurring in this knowledge base of start-up teams. Adopting the knowledge process view, detail process of knowledge sharing process model is constructed consisting of knowledge sharing speed, quality and quantity in a form of nomological net and empirically tested. In addition, preceding antecedents and consequential outcomes of this knowledge sharing is also posited as part of the research model : knowledge state of the team leading to team creativity and agility via the explicated knowledge sharing process model. Also, as this knowledge based view are triggered by the advance of IT in general, IT support is conceptualized as an antecedent and measures are operationalized. 230 data points were collected from start-up teams. Via data analysis using PLS, theoretical relationships from knowledge state, IT support, knowledge sharing process and knowledge consequences are found to be empirically supported except a few not supported. Most of all, team agility and team creativity are theoretically supported and empirically validated as critical outcome variables beyond performance measures. Though agility and creativity has been discussed as critical construct in start-up teams, it has not be much validated empirically. Also, interestingly, IT support are found to be significantly impacting the knowledge sharing process as expected. Academic contributions and implications for practice are discussed at the end with limitations and further research.

• Journal of Information Technology Services
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.119-129
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• 2013

The degree to which people share knowledge has major impacts on the effectiveness of virtual community of practice (VCoP). As an extension to the previous study which investigated the effect of individual cooperative types (cooperator, reciprocator, and free rider) on knowledge sharing, it is investigated how much increase in the degree of cooperation will enhance knowledge sharing when there are more knowledge contributors and strong ties exist across the community. Simulation method is adopted to measure the effect of the cooperative type and tie strength on knowledge sharing. The results reveal that the tie strength positively affects knowledge contribution in VCoP and strongly tied VCoP generates equivalent level of knowledge contribution as that of weakly-tied VCoP with 5% more contributors.

• Knowledge Management Research
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.85-103
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• 2009

Web 2.0, characterized as openness, sharing, and participation, has enabled Internet users to easily generate a variety of contents, and to share them through Web 2.0 services. Knowledge search service (KSS) is positioning itself as one of typical Web 2.0 services. Yet, few studies have sharpened our understanding of users' knowledge sharing behavior in the KSS environment. In order to address this knowledge void, this paper attempts to explore antecedents of their usage behavior in the KSS environment. Typically, they utilize stored knowledge and share their knowledge simultaneously. Considering this characteristic, our study regards service usage intention and knowledge sharing intention as final dependent variables. This study advances a research model based on Bhattacherjee's expectation-confirmation model, which is expanded by incorporating trust belief. Because of the openness of KSS, trust belief is believed to play a critical role in forming users' service usage intention and knowledge sharing intention. Furthermore, this study examines the difference of the antecedents' effects in terms of users' gender. We collected data from 275 respondents who have experience in using KSS. PLS (partial least squares) was employed for the analysis of the data. Analysis results confirm the important role of user satisfaction and trust belief in the formation of users' service usage intention and knowledge sharing intention. More importantly, trust belief has a more salient effect on knowledge service usage intention than user satisfaction. This study also shows the moderating role of users' gender. Finally, this paper provides managerial guidance on strategic planning aimed at improving users' service usage intention and knowledge sharing intention in the KSS environment.

• Journal of Information Technology Services
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.315-335
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• 2015

The New Way of Working (NWOW) is changing the world in which we work today. The principles of NWOW are based on freedom of time and place to work, and steering on output (results) instead of input (presence). As NWOW is a relatively new phenomenon, research on the effect of NWOW on knowledge sharing in organizations is scarce. In this research two multiple-case studies were performed to investigate the effect of the New Way of Working on knowledge. In the first study (A) different knowledge sharing scenarios were used at organizations that were in the process of implementing NWOW. This provided the opportunity to compare the sharing of knowledge between 'NWOW workers' and employees that still worked in the traditional way (non-NWOW workers). In total 216 scenario results were evaluated to determine differences in channel choice between the traditional and new work environment. For the second study (B) a Knowledge Sharing Framework was developed, based on the theories of Nonaka and Alavi & Leidner. This framework was used to determine the type of knowledge shared, e.g. tacit or explicit knowledge, in 84 situations. Additionally, to measure the level of NWOW adoption, a NWOW Analysis Monitor was used. The results show that NWOW workers use more different communication channels than traditional workers. When knowledge workers become more mobile, they will exchange knowledge less explicit (codified) and more tacit (personalized), use less face-to-face communication, but more video calls and e-mail. The adoption of the principles of NWOW seems to have a balancing effect on the knowledge that is shared in a tacit and explicit way, which in the view of Scheepers et al. is an effective knowledge sharing strategy. The research results show organizations need to realize that the New World of Working is affecting the way knowledge is shared. Missing out on this development may result in the loss of important knowledge and impact the operation of organizations.

• Asia pacific journal of information systems
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.367-384
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• 2016

Social networking services (SNS) have become a significant platform for Internet users to obtain knowledge and information. Users can share messages mutually via this platform. This kind of sharing enables users to exchange and gain useful information. However, in recent years, the crisis of stickiness has appeared in SNS, calling attention to the social network industry. Relevant professionals explain that the interest of users in sharing knowledge on SNS websites and applications may gradually decrease, eventually leading to users giving it because the platforms utilize simple and uninteresting methods to attract active participation from users. However, factors affecting the knowledge sharing on SNS websites and applications should be identified clearly through studies. Sina Weibo is one of the largest SNS platforms in the world, and studies on the factors affecting knowledge sharing of users could be valuable in addressing this issue. This paper establishes the theoretical analysis model of knowledge sharing in SNS sites and applications, analyzes the factors affecting knowledge sharing on these sites, and proposes the corresponding strategies to address the issues. Using questionnaire surveys on Sina Weibo users, this article will discuss the factors affecting knowledge sharing, and analyze these factors on SNS as well as improve the stickiness of users to achieve the aim of SNS platforms enabling the expansion of the range of users. The study will discuss theoretical foundations and the hypotheses that arise. The method of study will also be discussed. The study concludes with theoretical implications, practical implications, limitations, and future research opportunities. The results of this study could aid researchers in understanding the underlying reasons for social network activities as well as for SNS developers in improving SNS services.

• Asia pacific journal of information systems
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.1-32
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• 2010

The implementation of Knowledge Management Systems does not guarantee knowledge sharing within organizations because knowledge sharing cannot be mandated. Although previous investigations have attempted to identify the motivational factors that facilitate knowledge sharing, the results of these studies cannot be easily applied across organizations due to the highly context specific nature of knowledge sharing. Societal culture, as well as organizational culture, affects knowledge sharing behavior. This is why successful knowledge sharing initiatives in the United States, for example, may prove ineffective in another country with a very different culture like China. Therefore, it is clearly important to understand the effects of different societal cultures on individuals' knowledge sharing behaviors. The principal objective of this study is to deepen our understanding about the impact of national culture on an individual's knowledge sharing intention. In order to achieve this goal, field data was collected from 197 employees from a variety of companies and organizations in two countries-Sweden and China. In a collectivistic culture such as China, anticipated reciprocal relationships have been shown to directly affect individuals' attitudes toward knowledge sharing, and the organizational climate has also been shown to affect subjective norms to a significant degree. Subjective norms can influence intentions to share knowledge indirectly through attitudes. In the highly individualistic culture of Sweden, one's sense of self worth and anticipated reciprocal relationships have been shown to profoundly affect individuals' attitudes towards knowledge sharing. In both countries, anticipated extrinsic rewards have been shown to exert no detectable effects on respondents' knowledge sharing attitudes, and subjective norms and organizational climate have been determined not to affect knowledge sharing intentions directly. Rather, in both cases, knowledge sharing intentions have been shown to be directly affected by attitude.