Study on Knowledge Sharing of Community of Practice Based on Social Network Perspective
ABSTRACT
Based on social network perspective, we developed a model about the knowledge sharing of communities of practice (CoPs), analyzed the knowledge sharing of CoPs from the view of the network density, network centrality, network structure. And we found out that only the above indexes are kept in appropriately level can stimulate the knowledge sharing in CoPs. The strong ties contribute to the transfer of implicit knowledge, while the weak ties promote explicit knowledge. At last, according to the result of our study, we proposed some suggestions for further study on knowledge sharing of CoPs.
Based on social network perspective, we developed a model about the knowledge sharing of communities of practice (CoPs), analyzed the knowledge sharing of CoPs from the view of the network density, network centrality, network structure. And we found out that only the above indexes are kept in appropriately level can stimulate the knowledge sharing in CoPs. The strong ties contribute to the transfer of implicit knowledge, while the weak ties promote explicit knowledge. At last, according to the result of our study, we proposed some suggestions for further study on knowledge sharing of CoPs.
Cite this paper
nullK. Liao and H. Xiong, "Study on Knowledge Sharing of Community of Practice Based on Social Network Perspective," iBusiness, Vol. 3 No. 3, 2011, pp. 283-286. doi: 10.4236/ib.2011.33037.
nullK. Liao and H. Xiong, "Study on Knowledge Sharing of Community of Practice Based on Social Network Perspective," iBusiness, Vol. 3 No. 3, 2011, pp. 283-286. doi: 10.4236/ib.2011.33037.
References
[1] E. Wenger, “Communities of Practice,” 2006. http://www.ewenger.com/theory/index.htm [2] V. Krebs, “Social Network Analysis,” 2005. http://www.orgnet.com/sna.html [3] J. Liu, “Introduction to Social Network Analysis,” Social Sciences Academic Press, Beijing, 2004. [4] J. N. Cummings and R. Cross, “Structural Properties of Work Groups and Their Consequence for Performance,” Social Network, Vol. 25, No. 3, 2003, pp. 197-210. [5] M. S. Granovetter, “The Strength of Weak Ties,” American Journal of Sociology, Vol. 78, No. 6, 1973, pp. 1360- 1380. [6] M. Thompson, “Structural and Epistemic Parameters in Communities of Practice,” Organization Science, Vol. 16, No. 2, 2005, pp.151-164. doi:10.1287/orsc.1050.0120 [7] J. D. Luo, “Social Network Analysis,” Social Science Academic Press, Beijing, 2005. [8] M. E. Shaw, “Communication Networks,” In: L. Berkowitz Ed., Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, Academic Press, New York, 1964, pp. 111-147. [9] H. Ibarra, “Network Centrality, Power, and Innovation Involvement: Determinants of Technical and Administrative Roles,” Academy of Management Journal, Vol. 36, No. 3, 1993, pp. 471-501. doi:10.2307/256589 [10] R. Burt, “Structural Holes: The Social Structure of Competition,” Harvard University Press, Cambridge, 1992. [11] M. Hansen. “The Search-Transfer Problem: The Role of Weak Tie in Sharing Knowledge across Organization Subunits,” Administrative Science Quarterly, Vol. 44, No. 1, 1999, pp. 82-111. doi:10.2307/2667032 [12] J. N. Cummings and R. Cross, “Structural Properties of Work Groups and Their Consequences for Performance,” Social Networks, Vol. 25, No. 3, 2003, pp. 197-210. doi:10.1016/S0378-8733(02)00049-7 [13] C. Carey, K. Smith and L. M. Martin, “Cross-University Enterprise Education Collaboration as a Community of Practice,” Education and Trainning, Vol. 51 No. 8-9, 2009, pp.696-706. [14] N.-T. Huang, C.-C. Wei and W.-K. Chang, “Knowledge Management: Modeling the Knowledge Diffusion in Community of Practice,” Kybernetes, Vol. 36, No. 5-6, 2007, pp. 607-621. [15] G. P. Yin, Y. S. Mo and Y. Chen, “Promoting Tacit Knowledge Management Using Social Network Analysis,” Journal of Tsinghua University (Science and Technology), Vol. 46, No. S1, 2006, pp. 964-969.
[1] E. Wenger, “Communities of Practice,” 2006. http://www.ewenger.com/theory/index.htm [2] V. Krebs, “Social Network Analysis,” 2005. http://www.orgnet.com/sna.html [3] J. Liu, “Introduction to Social Network Analysis,” Social Sciences Academic Press, Beijing, 2004. [4] J. N. Cummings and R. Cross, “Structural Properties of Work Groups and Their Consequence for Performance,” Social Network, Vol. 25, No. 3, 2003, pp. 197-210. [5] M. S. Granovetter, “The Strength of Weak Ties,” American Journal of Sociology, Vol. 78, No. 6, 1973, pp. 1360- 1380. [6] M. Thompson, “Structural and Epistemic Parameters in Communities of Practice,” Organization Science, Vol. 16, No. 2, 2005, pp.151-164. doi:10.1287/orsc.1050.0120 [7] J. D. Luo, “Social Network Analysis,” Social Science Academic Press, Beijing, 2005. [8] M. E. Shaw, “Communication Networks,” In: L. Berkowitz Ed., Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, Academic Press, New York, 1964, pp. 111-147. [9] H. Ibarra, “Network Centrality, Power, and Innovation Involvement: Determinants of Technical and Administrative Roles,” Academy of Management Journal, Vol. 36, No. 3, 1993, pp. 471-501. doi:10.2307/256589 [10] R. Burt, “Structural Holes: The Social Structure of Competition,” Harvard University Press, Cambridge, 1992. [11] M. Hansen. “The Search-Transfer Problem: The Role of Weak Tie in Sharing Knowledge across Organization Subunits,” Administrative Science Quarterly, Vol. 44, No. 1, 1999, pp. 82-111. doi:10.2307/2667032 [12] J. N. Cummings and R. Cross, “Structural Properties of Work Groups and Their Consequences for Performance,” Social Networks, Vol. 25, No. 3, 2003, pp. 197-210. doi:10.1016/S0378-8733(02)00049-7 [13] C. Carey, K. Smith and L. M. Martin, “Cross-University Enterprise Education Collaboration as a Community of Practice,” Education and Trainning, Vol. 51 No. 8-9, 2009, pp.696-706. [14] N.-T. Huang, C.-C. Wei and W.-K. Chang, “Knowledge Management: Modeling the Knowledge Diffusion in Community of Practice,” Kybernetes, Vol. 36, No. 5-6, 2007, pp. 607-621. [15] G. P. Yin, Y. S. Mo and Y. Chen, “Promoting Tacit Knowledge Management Using Social Network Analysis,” Journal of Tsinghua University (Science and Technology), Vol. 46, No. S1, 2006, pp. 964-969.