TY - JOUR
T1 - Exploring the effects of online social ties on knowledge sharing
T2 - A comparative analysis of collocated vs dispersed teams
AU - Suh, Ayoung
AU - Shin, Kyung Shik
PY - 2010/8
Y1 - 2010/8
N2 - This study examines the different mechanisms of online social ties underlying individual knowledge sharing through comparative perspectives of collocated vs geographically dispersed teams. By integrating social capital theory and social cognitive theory, this study develops a theoretical model that predicts individual knowledge sharing. Next, the study uses social network analysis to empirically test the proposed model using 186 participants: 84 on collocated teams and 102 on dispersed teams. The results indicate that the frequency of online interaction does not affect knowledge sharing in collocated teams, while it plays a critical role in stimulating motivational factors that affect knowledge sharing of dispersed teams. On the other hand, centrality of online interaction positively influences trust of collocated teams and norms of reciprocity of dispersed teams. Based on these findings, this study suggests users should manage online social ties as carefully as offline social ties to facilitate knowledge sharing in work groups.
AB - This study examines the different mechanisms of online social ties underlying individual knowledge sharing through comparative perspectives of collocated vs geographically dispersed teams. By integrating social capital theory and social cognitive theory, this study develops a theoretical model that predicts individual knowledge sharing. Next, the study uses social network analysis to empirically test the proposed model using 186 participants: 84 on collocated teams and 102 on dispersed teams. The results indicate that the frequency of online interaction does not affect knowledge sharing in collocated teams, while it plays a critical role in stimulating motivational factors that affect knowledge sharing of dispersed teams. On the other hand, centrality of online interaction positively influences trust of collocated teams and norms of reciprocity of dispersed teams. Based on these findings, this study suggests users should manage online social ties as carefully as offline social ties to facilitate knowledge sharing in work groups.
KW - Comparative perspective
KW - Dispersed team
KW - Online social ties
KW - Social capital theory
KW - Social network analysis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77955782944&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/0165551510369632
DO - 10.1177/0165551510369632
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:77955782944
SN - 0165-5515
VL - 36
SP - 443
EP - 463
JO - Journal of Information Science
JF - Journal of Information Science
IS - 4
ER -