Does Online Social Networking Automatically Lead to 21st Century Communities of Practice?

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane A. Hutt
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Transfer ◽  
Learning Styles ◽  
Communities Of Practice ◽  
Social Networking ◽  
Approaches To Learning ◽  
Online Social Networking ◽  
Technical Content ◽  
Pros And Cons ◽  
Technical Issues ◽  
Intergenerational Knowledge

Online social networking communities can help strengthen professional ties among members of almost any profession. How useful they are to the engineering professions in contributing to the process of intergenerational knowledge transfer depends on the site. Prior to the popularity of online communications and networking tools such as Facebook, Twitter and Linked In, Power Industry engineers have utilized with varying success a number of knowledge transfer facilitation tools, both within their companies and outside them. This paper will discuss the pros and cons of both traditional and emerging methods and present specific examples that address technical issues, learning styles, differences in generational approaches to learning and communication. Issues relating to global needs in the engineering profession, organizational flexibility, the ability of people and organizations to adapt and change, and educational and workforce challenges will also be discussed. Short case studies illustrating various solutions for addressing some of these issues, including development of useful technical content and formation of communities of practice, will also be provided.

Social Networking for Businesses

2012 ◽  
pp. 603-618 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ritesh Chugh
Keyword(s):  
Web 2.0 ◽  
Social Networking ◽  
Information Content ◽  
Social Networking Sites ◽  
General Information ◽  
Online Social Networking ◽  
The World ◽  
Information Group ◽  
Pros And Cons ◽  
The Web

As expected, online social networking offers pros and cons for businesses, and it could be argued that this recent invention has taken the world by surprise as everybody is now coming to grips with the issues faced. Currently some businesses have allowed employees to adopt online social networking while others are wary. It is safe to assume that the non-adoption often stems from a lack of awareness of the benefits that social networking has to offer and the actions that businesses can take to negate the problems. This chapter provides a simple yet detailed overview into the world of online social networking. The pros and cons of social networking have been outlined and a review of four popular social networking sites (Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn and Viadeo) focussing upon general information, group features, design and information content has been provided. It outlines some practical usage guidelines that can be adopted to make social networking successful. Ultimately to meet the demands of businesses in the age of the Web 2.0 cyberworld it has become more important than ever before to understand this trend-setting movement.

Towards a taxonomy of intergenerational knowledge transfer practices

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 81-91
Author(s):  
Kerstin Kuyken ◽  
Mehran Ebrahimi ◽  
Anne-Laure Saives
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Transfer ◽  
Comparative Study ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Qualitative Case Study ◽  
High Tech ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Case Study Design ◽  
Younger Workers ◽  
Intergenerational Knowledge

Purpose This paper aims to develop a better understanding of intergenerational knowledge transfer (IKT) practices by adopting a context-related and comparative perspective. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative case study design involving 83 interviews and non-participative observation in German and Quebec organizations has been chosen. Findings Two distinctive archetypes of IKT emerge from both national contexts: “we-individualizing” (Germany) and “I-connecting” (Quebec), leading to an eightfold taxonomy of IKT practices. Research limitations/implications This research is limited to young and senior workers and to high-tech sectors. Originality/value Comparative and inductive study of IKT, adaptation of IKT practices to national contexts, retaining younger workers. This inductive and comparative study allows a better adaptation of IKT practices to national contexts and therefore a better retention of younger workers.

Community of practice: converting IT graduate students into specialists via professional knowledge sharing

Kybernetes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Liana Stanca ◽  
Dan-Cristian Dabija ◽  
Elena Păcurar
Keyword(s):  
Cluster Analysis ◽  
Knowledge Transfer ◽  
Learning Styles ◽  
Labour Market ◽  
Community Of Practice ◽  
Labour Force ◽  
Emerging Market ◽  
Professional Knowledge ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Learning Framework

Purpose The paper aims to highlight how an applied learning framework or “community of practice” (CoP) combined with a traditional theoretical course of study enables the identification of teaching-learning processes which facilitate knowledge transfer from practitioners to graduate information technology (IT) students for quicker integration in the labour market. Design/methodology/approach CoPs are identified based on cluster analysis according to Kolb’s Learning Style Inventory (1984), with data obtained through a survey. Empirical research is applied to the CoP developed within a non-formal learning framework, principal new actors being IT specialists linked to graduate IT students and teachers on a traditional university course. Graduate IT students can gain knowledge of the ideal employee and the social and emotional skills needed to integrate with the IT labour market. Findings The K-Means algorithm helps to identify clusters of graduate IT students displaying necessary knowledge acceptance behaviour to convert them into specialists. The results of the cluster analysis show different learning styles of the labour force, providing an overview of candidate selection methods and the knowledge, skills and attitudes expected by users. Research limitations/implications Although the research adds value to the existing literature on learning styles and the knowledge and core skills needed by IT specialists, it was limited to an emerging market. Originality/value The study provides a preliminary overview of graduate IT students’ attitudes from an emerging market to the re-engineering of academic learning contexts to facilitate professional knowledge transfer, converting them into IT practitioners and integrating them in the labour market of an emerging economy.

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