Understanding Social Capital Formation for Knowledge Sharing in Virtual Communities

2011 ◽  
pp. 136-155
Author(s):  
Shafiz A. Mohd Yusof
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Knowledge Sharing ◽  
Social Exchange ◽  
Social Exchange Theory ◽  
Virtual Communities ◽  
Elementary Theory ◽  
Virtual Community ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Future Research Agenda ◽  
The Social

This chapter attempts to explore the possibility of building social capital in virtual community(VC) by first introducing the phenomenon, its problems and context, types of VCs and the significance of knowledge sharing. This chapter then presents the process of social capital from a sociological standpoint where two main theories will be used—the elementary theory of social structure and the social exchange theory as the backbone of the arguments. By integrating both theories, a conceptual framework that includes six antecedents to develop social capital is provided. Subsequently, the propositions are expressed in terms of implications to the sociological approach of VC and some conclusions are made by including some future research agenda.

Understanding Social Capital Formation for Knowledge Sharing in Virtual Communities

2011 ◽  
pp. 2412-2432
Author(s):  
Shafiz A. Mohd Yusof
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Knowledge Sharing ◽  
Social Exchange ◽  
Social Exchange Theory ◽  
Virtual Communities ◽  
Elementary Theory ◽  
Virtual Community ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Future Research Agenda ◽  
The Social

This chapter attempts to explore the possibility of building social capital in virtual community(VC) by first introducing the phenomenon, its problems and context, types of VCs and the significance of knowledge sharing. This chapter then presents the process of social capital from a sociological standpoint where two main theories will be used—the elementary theory of social structure and the social exchange theory as the backbone of the arguments. By integrating both theories, a conceptual framework that includes six antecedents to develop social capital is provided. Subsequently, the propositions are expressed in terms of implications to the sociological approach of VC and some conclusions are made by including some future research agenda.

Influences of Organizational Culture on Knowledge Sharing in an Online Virtual Community

2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 15-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chaoyun Liang ◽  
Chi-Cheng Chang ◽  
William Rothwell ◽  
Kuen-Ming Shu
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Culture ◽  
Knowledge Sharing ◽  
Social Exchange ◽  
Social Exchange Theory ◽  
Virtual Communities ◽  
Interactive Effect ◽  
Virtual Community ◽  
Interactive Effects ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Management Platform

The present study examined the influences and interactive effects of organizational culture, including trust, communication, and leadership, on online knowledge sharing based on social exchange theory and theories of trust, communication, and leadership. Two-hundred-ninety-seven members in three online engineering virtual communities from a knowledge management platform in a company were participants for filling in questionnaires. The results revealed that trust, communication, and leadership significantly affected online knowledge sharing. Members with high levels of trust, communication, or leadership had significantly better knowledge sharing than members with medium or low levels of trust, communication, or leadership. The results also showed a significant interactive effect of trust and communication on online knowledge sharing and a significant interactive effect of leadership and communication on online knowledge sharing, but there was no significant interactive effect of trust and leadership on online knowledge sharing. No previous studies have investigated the interactive effects of trust, communication and leadership on online knowledge sharing. That research finding is a significant contribution different from previous studies. Finally, this article offers suggestions for future research, implications of this study, and limitations of this study.

Influences of Organizational Culture on Knowledge Sharing in an Online Virtual Community

2017 ◽  
pp. 972-992
Author(s):  
Chaoyun Liang ◽  
Chi-Cheng Chang ◽  
William Rothwell ◽  
Kuen-Ming Shu
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Culture ◽  
Knowledge Sharing ◽  
Social Exchange ◽  
Social Exchange Theory ◽  
Virtual Communities ◽  
Interactive Effect ◽  
Virtual Community ◽  
Interactive Effects ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Management Platform

The present study examined the influences and interactive effects of organizational culture, including trust, communication, and leadership, on online knowledge sharing based on social exchange theory and theories of trust, communication, and leadership. Two-hundred-ninety-seven members in three online engineering virtual communities from a knowledge management platform in a company were participants for filling in questionnaires. The results revealed that trust, communication, and leadership significantly affected online knowledge sharing. Members with high levels of trust, communication, or leadership had significantly better knowledge sharing than members with medium or low levels of trust, communication, or leadership. The results also showed a significant interactive effect of trust and communication on online knowledge sharing and a significant interactive effect of leadership and communication on online knowledge sharing, but there was no significant interactive effect of trust and leadership on online knowledge sharing. No previous studies have investigated the interactive effects of trust, communication and leadership on online knowledge sharing. That research finding is a significant contribution different from previous studies. Finally, this article offers suggestions for future research, implications of this study, and limitations of this study.

Cyber-Identities and Social Life in Cyberspace

2010 ◽  
pp. 27-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eleni Berki ◽  
Mikko Jäkälä
Keyword(s):  
Social Life ◽  
Virtual Communities ◽  
Identity Management ◽  
Virtual Community ◽  
Social Boundaries ◽  
Social Software ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Future Research Agenda ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Definition Of

Information and communication technology gradually transform virtual communities to active meeting places for sharing information and for supporting human actions, feelings and needs. In this chapter the authors examine the conceptual definition of virtual community as found in the traditional cyberliterature and extend it to accommodate latest cybertrends. Similar to the ways that previous social and mass media dissolved social boundaries related to time and space, cyber-communities and social software seem to also dissolve the boundaries of identity. This, in turn, questions the trust, privacy and confidentiality of interaction. The authors present a way of classifying and viewing self-presentation regarding cyber-identity management in virtual communities. It is based on the characteristics that cyber-surfers prefer to attribute to themselves and accordingly present themselves to others. In so doing, the authors coin the terms for five distinct phenomena, namely nonymity, anonymity, eponymity, pseudonymity and polynymity. They subsequently compare and contrast these terms, summarising information from their investigation, and outlining emerging questions and issues for a future research agenda.

scholarly journals The Joint Effects of Leader–Member Exchange and Team-Member Exchange in Predicting Job Crafting

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 3283
Author(s):  
Kihyun Lee
Keyword(s):  
Social Exchange ◽  
Social Exchange Theory ◽  
Team Member ◽  
Job Crafting ◽  
Interactive Effects ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Leader Member Exchange ◽  
The Social ◽  
Team Member Exchange ◽  
Member Exchange

In order to better understand the social aspects of job crafting, this study explores the direct and interactive effects of leader–member exchange (LMX) and team-member exchange (TMX) on three types of job crafting (i.e., task, relational, and cognitive crafting). Drawing on both social exchange theory and the job demands–resources model, this study examines the social antecedents of job crafting in a sample of 336 members of three shipbuilding companies. The results indicate that individuals who have high-quality relationships with their leaders engage in more job crafting and that TMX is positively related to job crafting, after controlling for LMX. In addition, the results show that TMX moderates the positive relationship between LMX and job crafting, such that a higher TMX strengthens the LMX–job crafting link. The implications of these findings for job crafting and social antecedents are discussed, and suggestions for future research are presented.

A Review of Individual Factors on Knowledge Sharing: Evidence from the Empirical Literature

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (4.15) ◽  
pp. 186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salah Shehab ◽  
Rabiah Eladwiah Abdul Rahim ◽  
Salina Daud
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Sharing ◽  
Social Exchange ◽  
Social Exchange Theory ◽  
Empirical Literature ◽  
Individual Factors ◽  
Theoretical Understanding ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Quantitative Studies ◽  
The Social ◽  
Study Context

Knowledge sharing is considered to be an essential concept and a determinant of success regarding knowledge management. The current paper reviews the most relevant quantitative studies, within the context of individual-level knowledge sharing. The main aim of this paper is to identify the relevant individual factors that influence knowledge sharing. Furthermore, it seeks to identify relevant theories, previously used in literature, that communicate a theoretical understanding of individual levels of knowledge sharing. The researchers searched through five well-known databases using a combination of keywords related to the study context. By applying filtration procedures to the articles gathered from the selected databases, the literature survey revealed 31 most relevant articles. As a result of reviewing the selected articles, it has been indicated that the factors that most affect knowledge sharing include trust, reciprocity, self-efficacy, altruism, and reputation. These factors, studied through different contexts, have been found to significantly affect the behavior of individuals in terms of sharing knowledge. Furthermore, it has been found that the social exchange theory has been repeatedly used. It has been concluded that the resulted antecedents may influence the knowledge sharing of individuals and consider these factors by the decision makers will motivate the individual’s intention to knowledge sharing.  

A simplified approach to understanding customer support and help during self-service encounters

2020 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 609-634
Author(s):  
Estelle van Tonder ◽  
Stephen G. Saunders ◽  
Leon T. de Beer
Keyword(s):  
Service Quality ◽  
Knowledge Sharing ◽  
Social Exchange ◽  
Social Exchange Theory ◽  
Exchange Theory ◽  
Service Encounters ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Customer Support ◽  
The Social ◽  
Self Service

PurposeIn the absence of direct employee involvement, customers sharing knowledge and know-how with other customers during self-service encounters is key for promoting service quality. This study assessed the extent to which customer support and help during self-service encounters could simply be explained by multiple motivations of the social exchange theory.Design/methodology/approachA survey approach was followed. The model was tested among 258 electronic banking customers in South Africa and later cross-validated among 253 electronic banking customers in Australia. Multi-group confirmatory factor analysis with country as the grouping variable, latent variable modelling and indirect tests were performed to assess interrelationships among diverse factors that may contribute to customer support and help during self-service encounters, as accounted for by motivations of the social exchange theory.FindingsAdequate model fit was obtained for the combined structural model, which was based on the invariant model. Value contribution and competence affirmation, pleasure derived from helping, reciprocity and reputation enhancement are relevant motivations of the social exchange theory that may impact customer support and help through knowledge sharing.Research implicationsThe study provides a simplified and more cohesive explanation of customers' motivations for engaging in customer support and helping behaviours during self-service encounters.Practical implicationsService providers seeking guidance on knowledge sharing among customers, which may lead to greater service quality, should benefit from this research.Originality/valueThe findings contribute to greater understanding of social exchanges by customers who provide support and help to other customers during self-service encounters, and that ultimately may affect service quality.

Effects of social capital on online knowledge sharing: positive and negative perspectives

2015 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 466-484 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chiu-Ping Hsu
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Knowledge Sharing ◽  
Conceptual Model ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Virtual Communities ◽  
Virtual Community ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Relationship Continuity ◽  
Complementary Resources

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present a conceptual model of how both the benefits and risks of social capital influence online knowledge sharing among virtual community members towards enhancing members’ relationship continuity and virtual community reputations. In addition, this study addresses the effects of complementary resources on knowledge sharing. Design/methodology/approach – The structural equation modelling approach was applied to estimate the conceptual model by using survey data from virtual community members. A total of 626 valid questionnaires were collected. Findings – The empirical results showed that most of the research hypotheses were supported. The benefits of social capital and complementary resources have a positive effect on knowledge sharing, thereby strengthening relationship continuity and community reputation. Furthermore, the risk of social capital has a negative effect on knowledge sharing, as expected. Originality/value – A review of the literature reveals a lack of studies focusing on both the positive and negative influences of social capital on online knowledge sharing. This study therefore contributes to a comprehensive perspective for understanding online knowledge sharing in virtual communities.

Identification vs. Self-Verification in Virtual Communities (VC)

2012 ◽  
pp. 208-236 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathy Ning Shen
Keyword(s):  
Research Agenda ◽  
Virtual Communities ◽  
Virtual Community ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Comprehensive Review ◽  
Future Research Agenda ◽  
Identity Processes ◽  
Theoretical Perspectives ◽  
Prior Literature ◽  
Practical Implications

Identity-related processes have been identified as important in explaining virtual community (VC) member behavior as well as informing system design of VCs. In particular, the two distinct identity processes of self-verification and identification have been identified and investigated separately, portrayed as two distinctive or contradictory identity processes with different practical implications. This chapter compares and reconciles these two theoretical perspectives in explaining VC participation. Based on a critical and comprehensive review of prior literature, the author identifies three major theoretical gaps that suggest how VC research and management can be advanced through an identity perspective. Finally, the chapter is concluded by discussing key implications of applying identity perspectives in VC research and future research agenda.

Exploring the Influence of Rewards on Attitudes Towards Knowledge Sharing

2011 ◽  
pp. 220-237 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gee Woo (Gilbert) Bock ◽  
Young-Gul Kim
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Sharing ◽  
Social Exchange ◽  
Social Exchange Theory ◽  
Organizational Context ◽  
Reasoned Action ◽  
Exchange Theory ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
The Social ◽  
Motivating Factor ◽  
And Behavior

This study theoretically examines and empirically tests factors expected to affect an individual’s knowledge sharing attitudes, intention and behavior in an organizational context. The research model is constructed based on the economic exchange theory, the social exchange theory, the self-efficacy theory and the theory of reasoned action. Results from the field survey of 467 employees of four large and government-invested organizations show that ‘anticipated reciprocal relationships’ and ‘perceived personal contribution to the organization’ are the major determinants of the individual’s attitudes towards knowledge sharing. ‘Anticipated extrinsic rewards,’ believed by many as the most important motivating factor for knowledge sharing, are not significantly related to the attitudes towards knowledge sharing. As expected, positive attitudes towards knowledge sharing are found to lead to a positive intention to share knowledge and, finally, to actual knowledge sharing behaviors.

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