Use of Networking Apps and Knowledge Sharing among Librarians in University of Port Harcourt

The study investigated the use of networking applications for knowledge sharing among librarians in University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The purpose was to identify the types of networking apps used, the extent of use, perceived benefits, and problems associated with the use of networking apps for knowledge sharing. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. The population comprised the total of 25 librarians (both practicing & teaching staff). Structured Questionnaire was used as primary instrument for data collection. Data collected was analysed using descriptive statistics of arithmetic mean and standard deviation. The study however identifies email apps, whatsapp, facebook app, instagram app, zoom app, and tweeter app as the types of networking apps used for knowledge sharing, but only few persons used linkedin app and skype app. The study also shows that email apps, whatsapp, facebook app, instagram app and tweeter app were used frequently due to some identified benefits to include ease of use, cost effectiveness, speed of access and retrieval, automatic storage and preservation, external and internal communication and collaboration amongst others. In spite of these overwhelming benefits, high cost of networking devices/subscription, lack of interest, lack of skills, inadequate internet access, fear of criticism and others still militate against the use of networking apps for knowledge sharing among librarians. The study thus recommends adequate capacity building on the use of emerging networking applications for knowledge sharing for all librarians to keep pace with new media. Also, the culture, enthusiasm and the willingness to share knowledge using networking apps should be developed among librarians

Incentive Policies for Facilitating Knowledge Sharing in an Enterprise Social Network

This paper examines knowledge sharing in enterprise social network (ESNs) through an analytical model. The structure of an ESN, its underlying technology, and incentives for knowledge workers affect knowledge sharing in organizations. We present a stylized model with two groups of knowledge workers with different knowledge levels. High-knowledge workers vary in their connectivity and sharing costs. We explore the design and efficacy of various incentive policies to facilitate knowledge sharing in ESNs. The different incentive schemes target either specific workers or groups based on connectivity, efficiency, or both. Our research provides valuable insights for practitioners to design incentive policies for promoting knowledge sharing in ESNs

Selling the Fourth Revolution: The Correlation between C-Suite Architecture and a Big Data Mindset as Portrayed in the Letter to the Shareholders

Big data’s diverse applications for the modern data deluge span problems and industries. While offering titular possibilities, is big data an area of serious corporate inquiry or is it a source of hype? This research seeks to add to the growing body of management literature on big data. C-suite architecture additions of a CIO and/or a CTO demonstrate an environment for and increased BDA mindset. A review of the annual letter to the shareholder is a proxy for the external narrative of a big data strategy. To measure correlation between C-suite structure and outward narrative, a regression for eight industries, from 2011 to 2014, measure correlation between external and organizational positioning. Additional regressions examine industry-sensitivity and leader-laggard dynamics. Five of the eight industries demonstrate correlation between architectural repositioning and perceived investor support for big data, indicating that big data intensive C-suite architecture correlates with letter to the shareholder big data emphasis

WHAT BENEFITS DO THEY BRING? A CASE STUDY ANALYSIS ON ENTERPRISE SOCIAL NETWORKS

Over the last years, Enterprise Social Networks (ESN) have gained increasing attention both in academia and practice, resulting in a large number of publications dealing with ESN. Among them is a large number of case studies describing the benefits of ESN in each individual case. Based on the different research objects they focus, various benefits are described. However, an overview of the bene-fits achieved by using ESN is missing and will, thus, be elaborated in this article (research question 1). Further, we cluster the identified benefits to more generic categories and finally classify them to the capabilities of traditional IT as presented by Davenport and Short (1990) to determine if new capabilities of IT arise using ESN (research question 2). To address our research questions, we perform a qualitative content analysis on 37 ESN case studies. As a result, we identify 99 individual benefits, classify them to the capabilities of traditional IT, and define a new IT capability named Social Capital. Our results can, e.g., be used to align and expand current ESN success measurement approaches

Examining Ethics for an Action Research Project in an Enterprise Social Network Enabled Virtual Communities of Practice Environment

The implementation of social media tools in organisations, known as enterprise social networking (ESN), provides a convenient means for staff to share knowledge in informal settings. ESN are used to support a knowledge management technique called communities of practice (CoP), and the use of ESN and CoP for organizational knowledge sharing is the subject of increasing interest and research as awareness of the benefits grows. Action research (AR) is seen as a suitable approach for studies in this field. However, given the people-centric nature of these systems, AR in this area presents considerable ethical dilemmas; brought about by the nature of AR and its research methods, and the nature of use of the ESN tools. This paper addresses how these ethical issues might be dealt with in the course of an AR study that examines how ESN can enable staff knowledge sharing in virtual CoP in a higher education context

Using Social Media to Enable Staff Knowledge Sharing in Higher Education Institutions

Higher education institutions (HEIs) are knowledge intensive environments by nature. However, the management of organisational knowledge and the promotion of staff knowledge sharing is largely neglected in these institutions. This study examines how enterprise social networks can enable staff knowledge sharing in communities of practice in that context. The study is framed as an Action Research project, covering three cycles over a 12 month period. A conceptual model was developed for empirical testing and data was collected through focus groups and interviews, supplemented by reflective journaling and content analysis. The findings support the conceptual model and provide insight into the antecedents necessary for the creation of an enterprise social network enabled knowledge sharing environment, the motivators for and barriers to participation, and the perceived organisational and individual benefits of increased staff knowledge sharing activity. The findings indicate that the barriers to participation are influenced by the prevalent organisation structure and culture, and a divide between faculty and other staff. However, individual benefits that accrue from participation may influence greater participation, and organisational benefits that accrue may influence organisational strategies that drive change in structure and culture to promote the development of the knowledge sharing environment. A number of findings have practical implications for the management of higher education institutions, such as the evidence of a divide between faculty and other staff, and the perceived existence of an organisational culture that inhibits staff communication, interaction and collaboration. In general, the study findings provide an opportunity for educationalists to better understand the scope and impact of employing social media platforms for knowledge sharing. This study adds to the growing body of work on organisational implementations of social media, and should be of interest to practitioners and researchers undertaking similar projects

Exploring the role of networks and proximity for communication satisfaction in an academic library

Researchers tie communication satisfaction within organizations to job satisfaction, productivity, and commitment, and yet supporting communication satisfaction remains a challenge for workplaces. This study proposes that network centrality and proximity both are related to communication satisfaction. Further, this study proposes that proximity actions—voluntary actions which increase proximity with co-workers—relate to network centrality. As employees increasingly work at a geographic distance from their co-workers, they increasingly experience proximity barriers to the already difficult task of staying informed through informal communication channels. This study is a mixed methods case study within an academic library. Findings include the value of mixed methods studies for studying the topic as well as the importance of supporting proximity actions within the organization. The study also suggests multiple avenues for future research including additional qualitative data gathering to explore high-impact behaviors which support satisfaction with organizational communication between departments

Management Support for Staff Knowledge Sharing in Higher Education Institutions (JAHE)

Purpose of the research: This study focuses on staff knowledge sharing activity in higher education institutions (HEIs), which is recognised as being at low levels in these organisations. The advent of social media and its adoption by organisations in the form of enterprise social networks (ESN) is gathering pace, and its usefulness to organisational knowledge sharing can be seen through a number of characteristics it shares with a knowledge management technique known as communities of practice. A conceptual model is presented with enterprise social networks and virtual communities of practice (vCoP) at its core. The formal objective of the research is to investigate how ESN can enable staff knowledge sharing in vCoP in HEIs. Methodology: The study is based on a 12 month Action research project in the host organization, a medium-sized HEI in Ireland. The study is qualitative in nature and data collection instruments included focus groups and semi-structured interviews. Findings: The findings indicate that management support is a key antecedent for the establishment if an active knowledge sharing environment. Management must facilitate and encourage knowledge sharing activities rather than mandating or instructing them. Implications: The findings have implications for HEIs in their attitudes towards knowledge sharing and their understanding of its importance. The findings can also help in the creation and management of active knowledge sharing communities in HEIs and will be of interest to practitioners and researchers working in this area

Potentiale von Enterprise Social Networks und Business Process Management zur Gestaltung effizienter Unternehmen

In dieser Dissertation werden ausgewählte Fragestellungen aus den Bereichen Business Process Management (BPM) und Enterprise Social Networks (ESN) beantwortet. Im Kontext des BPM werden drei Forschungsfragen erarbeitet: (1) In welchem Ausmaß sind BPM-Maßnahmen in klein- und mittelständischen Unternehmen umgesetzt? Welche Faktoren können identifiziert werden, die sich fördernd oder hindernd auf die Umsetzung von BPM-Maßnahmen auswirken? (2) Welche Auswirkungen (z.B. Zeit, Kosten) haben BPI-Pattern in verschiedenen Szenarien? Was sind fördernde und hindernde Faktoren für die Anwendung von einzelnen BPI-Pattern? (3) Wie können kulturelle Eigenschaften anhand von Geschäftsprozessen gemessen werden und wie lassen sich die gewonnen Erkenntnisse in Prozessverbesserungsinitiativen nutzen? Im Kontext des ESN werden ebenfalls drei Forschungsfragen erarbeitet: (1) Was ist der aktuelle Stand der Literatur im Themenbereich ESN und welcher Forschungsbedarf besteht weiterhin? (2) Welche Benefits lassen sich durch den Einsatz von ESN erzielen? Können alle Benefits den traditionellen IT Capabilities zugeordnet werden oder schaffen ESN neue IT Capabilities? (3) Wie kann der Erfolg von ESN im Kontext von "Social Capital" gemessen werden und welchen Nutzen bringt ein entsprechender Messansatz? Zur Beantwortung der Forschungsfragen werden unterschiedliche Forschungsmethodiken angewendet, im Speziellen Literature Review, Survey, Case Study, Design Science, Content Analysis und Experiment. Die Forschungsergebnisse werden in wissenschaftlichen Beiträgen aufgearbeitet, wobei je Forschungsfrage ein Beitrag erarbeitet wird