Examining Social Structure in an Electronic Network of Practice

2011 ◽  
pp. 207-212
Author(s):  
Molly McLure Wasko ◽  
Robin Tiegland
Keyword(s):  
Collective Action ◽  
Computer Mediated Communication ◽  
Knowledge Exchange ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Mediated Communication ◽  
Professional Advice ◽  
Electronic Networks ◽  
Electronic Network ◽  
Geographically Dispersed ◽  
Networks Of Practice

Recent advances in IS have led to the development of electronic networks that enable thousands of geographically dispersed individuals, who are typically strangers from diverse organizational, national, and demographic backgrounds, to interact (Sproull & Faraj, 1995). In these networks, individuals engage in knowledge sharing and problem solving through message postings offering professional advice, storytelling of personal experiences, and debate on relevant issues (Wasko & Faraj, 2000). Individuals benefit from these networks since they gain access to new information and expertise related to their practice that are often not available locally. Based on previous research (Wasko & Teigland, 2004), we define an electronic network of practice (ENOP) as a self-organizing, open activity system focused on a shared practice that exists through computer-mediated communication. Despite the growing interest in online social structures such as electronic networks of practice, we know surprisingly little about how or why these structures support knowledge exchange (Desanctis & Monge, 1999; Lin, 2001). Thus, the goal of this exploratory research is to investigate electronic networks of practice by drawing upon theories of public goods and collective action. Building upon work by Fulk and colleagues (Fulk, Flanagin, Kalman, Monge, & Ryan, 1996), we investigate ENOPs as a form of collective action by examining two fundamental research questions: (1) what is the pattern of interaction underlying knowledge exchange in an ENOP and (2) why do some individuals participate more than others in an ENOP. The article concludes with a discussion and areas for future research.

Electronic Networks of Practice and Communities of Practice

2011 ◽  
pp. 188-192
Author(s):  
Robin Teigland ◽  
Molly McLure Wasko
Keyword(s):  
Communities Of Practice ◽  
Computer Mediated Communication ◽  
Knowledge Exchange ◽  
Social Structures ◽  
Mediated Communication ◽  
Electronic Networks ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Geographically Dispersed ◽  
Bulletin Boards ◽  
Networks Of Practice

Recent advances in ICT have led to the emergence of online social structures where the primary purpose is knowledge exchange. Using computer-mediated communication technologies, such as newsgroups, listservs, and bulletin boards, an unlimited number of geographically dispersed individuals with diverse organizational, national, and demographic backgrounds share knowledge through helping each other solve problems, debating issues around shared interests, and telling stories of personal experiences (Sproull & Faraj, 1995; Wasko & Faraj, 2000). Individuals benefit from participation in this online knowledge exchange since they gain access to help and expertise that are often not available locally. While knowledge exchange in traditional face-to-face communities of practice within organizations has received considerable attention, we know much less about the dynamics underlying electronic networks and have yet to reach a consensus defining the phenomenon of interest. For example, online social structures focused on knowledge exchange are commonly referred to by numerous names: virtual or electronic communities, communities of interest, and online communities. Additionally, both practitioners and researchers tend to take a unitary view of both communities of practice and electronic networks, thus masking possible heterogeneity along a number of important dimensions. Yet without clear definitions of electronic networks, it is difficult to apply overarching theories that are both appropriate and generalizable, to compare across studies, and to build a coherent stream of research. Thus, this article’s purpose is twofold: (1) to define and describe the specific characteristics of one form of online social structure, an electronic network of practice and (2) to compare electronic networks of practice with communities of practice in order to highlight the roles of each for supporting learning and knowledge exchange focused on a shared practice.

Knowledge Exchange in Electronic Networks of Practice

2008 ◽  
pp. 172-194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Molly Wasko ◽  
Samer Faraj
Keyword(s):  
Computer Mediated Communication ◽  
Knowledge Exchange ◽  
Knowledge Flows ◽  
Mediated Communication ◽  
Electronic Networks ◽  
Computer Mediated ◽  
Organizational Ties ◽  
Survey Responses ◽  
Networks Of Practice ◽  
Globally Distributed

This study examines knowledge exchange in a worldwide, extra-organizational, Usenet-based electronic network of practice. Participation in such networks is voluntary, globally distributed, and network participants generally do not have personal or organizational ties. The purpose of the study was to investigate two questions: first, what type of knowledge is being transferred in these networks, and second, how is knowledge transferred across individuals in electronic networks. To address these questions, we observed and saved all messages posted to comp.lang.C++ for a period of 7 weeks. Our analyses include content analysis of 1,562 messages, survey responses from 593 participants, and objective data from the electronic message postings. The study illuminates how people use computer-mediated communication to support knowledge transfer, the types of knowledge transferred, as well as how knowledge flows in this network.

Computer-Mediated Knowledge Sharing

2008 ◽  
pp. 89-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kimiz Dalkir
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Sharing ◽  
Social Presence ◽  
Computer Mediated Communication ◽  
Knowledge Exchange ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Mediated Communication ◽  
Knowledge Based ◽  
Knowledge Based Economy ◽  
Number Of Factors ◽  
Computer Mediated

Computer-mediated communication has become the foremost means of sharing knowledge in today’s knowledge-based economy. However, not all Internet-based knowledge-sharing channels are created equal: they differ in their effectiveness when used for exchanging knowledge. A number of factors influence the efficacies of knowledge exchange, including: (1) characteristics of the knowledge being exchanged and, (2) characteristics of the channels used. It is therefore necessary to define key knowledge and channel attributes in order to understand how knowledge can be effectively shared using computers. This chapter examines the computer-mediated knowledge sharing mechanisms and proposes a typology based on media richness and social presence characteristics that can serve as a preliminary conceptual basis to select the most appropriate channel. The chapter concludes with a discussion of key issues and future research directions. While much of the research has been done in organizational settings, the chapter is applicable to all forms of computer-mediated communication.

Extending Richness with Reach

2011 ◽  
pp. 230-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin Teigland ◽  
Wasko
Keyword(s):  
Communities Of Practice ◽  
Information Technologies ◽  
Knowledge Exchange ◽  
Individual Performance ◽  
Electronic Networks ◽  
Geographically Dispersed ◽  
Communication Space ◽  
Bridging Ties ◽  
Networks Of Practice ◽  
Traditional Communities

In an effort to replicate Communities of Practice online, organizations are investing in Information Technologies that create intra-organizational electronic networks, or “Electronic Networks of Practice”. These networks are designed to enable the creation of electronic “bridging ties” between geographically dispersed organizational members to provide a communication space in which individuals working on similar problems may quickly ask each other for help on task-related problems. This chapter compares the dynamics of knowledge exchange between Electronic Networks of Practice and traditional Communities of Practice. In addition, this chapter examines why people participate and help others in the network, as well as whether participation has an impact on knowledge outcomes and individual performance. In order to investigate these issues, data were collected from a successful electronic network at one of Europe’s largest consulting companies. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the results and implications for both managers and researchers interested in the dynamics of electronic knowledge exchange.

scholarly journals Identity and collective action via computer-mediated communication: A review and agenda for future research

2017 ◽  
Vol 20 (7) ◽  
pp. 2647-2669 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Priante ◽  
Michel L Ehrenhard ◽  
Tijs van den Broek ◽  
Ariana Need
Keyword(s):  
Collective Action ◽  
Media Studies ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Computer Mediated Communication ◽  
Integrative Approach ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Mediated Communication ◽  
Computer Mediated ◽  
Methodological Approaches ◽  
Practical Implications

Since the start of large-scale waves of mobilisation in 2011, the importance of identity in the study of collective action via computer-mediated communication (CMC) has been a source of contention. Hence, our research sets out to systematically review and synthesise empirical findings on identity and collective action via CMC from 2012 to 2016. We found that the literature on the topic is broad and diverse, with contributions from multiple disciplines and theoretical and methodological approaches. Based on our findings, we provide directions for future research and propose the adoption of an integrative approach that combines the study of identity and networks to advance our understanding of collective action via CMC. This review contributes to the crossroad of social movement, collective action, communication and media studies. Our results also have practical implications for the organisation of collective action in a society characterised by the pervasive influence of CMC.

Computer-Mediated Knowledge Sharing

2009 ◽  
pp. 48-66
Author(s):  
Kimiz Dalkir
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Sharing ◽  
Social Presence ◽  
Computer Mediated Communication ◽  
Knowledge Exchange ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Mediated Communication ◽  
Knowledge Based ◽  
Knowledge Based Economy ◽  
Number Of Factors ◽  
Computer Mediated

Computer-mediated communication has become the foremost means of sharing knowledge in today’s knowledge-based economy. However, not all Internet-based knowledge-sharing channels are created equal: they differ in their effectiveness when used for exchanging knowledge. A number of factors influence the efficacies of knowledge exchange, including: (1) characteristics of the knowledge being exchanged and, (2) characteristics of the channels used. It is therefore necessary to define key knowledge and channel attributes in order to understand how knowledge can be effectively shared using computers. This chapter examines the computer-mediated knowledge sharing mechanisms and proposes a typology based on media richness and social presence characteristics that can serve as a preliminary conceptual basis to select the most appropriate channel. The chapter concludes with a discussion of key issues and future research directions. While much of the research has been done in organizational settings, the chapter is applicable to all forms of computer-mediated communication.

Computer-Mediated Communication and Mental Health

2020 ◽  
pp. 78-110
Author(s):  
Adrian Meier ◽  
Emese Domahidi ◽  
Elisabeth Günther
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Computer Mediated Communication ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Mediated Communication ◽  
Disciplinary Boundaries ◽  
Emerging Trends ◽  
Computer Mediated ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Systematic Database

The relationship between computer-mediated communication (e.g., Internet or social media use) and mental health has been a long-standing issue of debate. Various disciplines (e.g., communication, psychology, sociology, medicine) investigate computer-mediated communication in relation to a great variety of negative (i.e., psychopathology) and positive (i.e., well-being) markers of mental health. We aim at charting this vast, highly fragmented, and fast growing literature by means of a scoping review. Using methods of computational content analysis in conjunction with qualitative analyses, we map 20 years of research based on 1,780 study abstracts retrieved through a systematic database search. Results reveal the most common topics investigated in the field, as well as its disciplinary boundaries. Our review further highlights emerging trends in the literature and points to unique implications for how future research should address the various relationships between computer-mediated communication and mental health.

Cyber Conflict and Management

2012 ◽  
pp. 1088-1095
Author(s):  
Kumi Ishii ◽  
Brittany R. Black
Keyword(s):  
Daily Life ◽  
Computer Mediated Communication ◽  
Online Communication ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Mediated Communication ◽  
Research Directions ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Computer Mediated ◽  
Future Research Directions ◽  
Cyber Conflict

With the diffusion of networked technology in our society, online communication has become an integral part of daily life, and conflict no longer occurs only in face-to-face (FtF) contexts. Many people experience cyber conflict (i.e., a perceived incompatibility of goals among two or more cyber parties over computer-mediated communication (CMC) or online communication) and manages it online. While research in this significant and emerged topic is scattered across contexts and disciplines, this chapter provides preliminary knowledge by discussing the antecedents and outcomes of cyber conflict as well as factors that affect cyber conflict management. The chapter also offers future research directions.

Virtual Communities

2009 ◽  
pp. 1512-1519
Author(s):  
George Kontolemakis
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Communities ◽  
Computer Mediated Communication ◽  
Semantic Space ◽  
Computer Networking ◽  
Mediated Communication ◽  
Electronic Networks ◽  
Computer Mediated ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Improved Technology ◽  
Over Time

In recent years, computer-mediated communication has been the enabling factor for connecting people to one another and establishing “virtual relationships” (Igbaria, 1999; Johnston, Raizada, & Cronin, 1996). Virtual communities evolved as users of the early networks utilized them mainly for informal rather than business-related communication. These communities were not planned development in the sphere of computer networking. As this form of interaction increased, the users began to demand better and improved technology and functionality which would assist them in their interactions. “Virtual Communities describe the union between individuals or organizations who share common values and interests using electronic media to communicate within a shared semantic space on a regular basis” (Schubert, 1999). This was one of the first definitions of Virtual Communities. Nowadays, in considering companies that are building or trying to build virtual communities, it seems that the up-to-date definition of Virtual Communities is that these “involve establishing connections on electronic networks among people with common needs so that they can engage in shared discussions that persist and accumulate over time leading to complex webs of personal relationships and an increasing sense of identification with the overall community” (Hagel, 2007).

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