Investigating the knowledge sharing activities among postgraduates students using social media tools

Knowledge sharing is a process where individuals mutually exchange their knowledge and jointly create new knowledge. Recently, it is found that besides face-to-face interactions, students also share their knowledge through social media tools. Social media is considered as the key value in the campus to facilitate knowledge sharing and the main tasks in order to support the daily communication. Many dimensions of knowledge sharing in social media environments have not yet been examined. Also many questions are still unanswered and need to be explored across different social media tools. Thus, this research aims to explore the knowledge sharing activities among local and international postgraduate students at Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) as well as find the benefits and barriers through using social media tools during sharing knowledge. Data were collected through qualitative approach. A total of 12 postgraduate students were interviewed and received answers from them through semistructure interview. Interpretive analysis method was used to find the themes by using Nvivo software. The results for this study included four sections based on Nonaka and Takeuchi theory, in the socialization section the findings show the activities for students include exchange experience and perspective as well as confirmed the important of social media in overcome time, geographical distance and cost that is a barriers to share knowledge as well as provide more confident to share ideas for students. As well as, some barriers that still issues to sharing knowledge such as lack of math-symbol and culture. In externalization section, the findings show the design the diagram and document the files as activities as well as show the important of using social media in documentation to save the files and diagram online as well as enhance English language and protect from viruses. While the barriers include uploading limitation. In combination section the findings show the modification and reflection as activities among group member and show the benefit of social media during combine the work for assignment and project is easy to use and saving paper cost. While, the barriers is downloading limitation. In internalization section the findings show the review and reflection as activities among student. The benefits include create new idea and acquiring in depth understanding while lack of personal interaction and late in answering as barriers to share knowledge. This study contributed by using the Nonaka and Takeuchi model with higher educational institutions. In the same context, there is few empirical studies focused on the IT with share knowledge, therefore this research sought to add information into the literature by shed light the barriers and the benefits through utilize the new technologies for share know among the team wor

Culture or social interaction? A study of influential factors on weblog design

The importance of blogs and social networking as medium of interactions had gain substantial popularity in mainstream media. Such popularity is due to blogs timely publication, ease of use and wide availability. Blogs hypertext and hyperlinks spread information and influence through an underlying social network. Taking into consideration that past studies on web design have focused on cultural traits on design elements, this paper aims to analyse the patterns on blog design from the perspectives of social influence and interactions. Examining design patterns from five networks of blogs using content analysis method, the results show that design of blogs in an online network shares similar elements and the pattern is different from one network to the other

Microfinancing Influence on Micro-Entrepreneurs Business Growth: Mediating Role of Psychological and Social Capital

This paper is set out to uncover the phenomena of micro-enterprises business growth by hypothesizing microfinancing, social and psychological capital as factors. This research is important due to the fact that the paucity of information on how microfinancing, social and psychological capital relate to micro-enterprises business growth would obscure the ways in which they survive. In Malaysia, microfinance is used as one of the tools to alleviate poverty, as well as to improve the livelihood and standards of living of the poor and those who are financially excluded.  However, almost three decades after the introduction of microfinancing programmes, the performance of microfinancing recipients’ i.e. micro-enterprises in Malaysia is not satisfactory. Besides providing loans to these micro-entrepreneurs, other aspects of facilitation, including the inculcation of the entrepreneur’s intangible resources, need to be addressed. Therefore, this research examines the mediating effect of micro-entrepreneurs’ psychological and social capital on the relationship between microfinance provisions and the business growth of micro-enterprises. The samples are identified from two microfinance providers, i.e., Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) and the National Entrepreneur Group Economic Fund (TEKUN) micro credit financing scheme recipients’ databases. A total of 250 useable survey questionnaires was collected and analysed to test the hypothesised relationship. The data was analysed using Partial Least Square-SEM and the structural model was examined to test the hypotheses. The findings show that micro-entrepreneurs’ psychological and social capital have a significant mediating effects on the relationship between provision of microfinance and the business growth of micro-enterprises in Kelantan. This research offers the practical implication that the effects of micro finance provision on the business growth of micro-enterprises are better exerted through micro-entrepreneurs’ psychological and social capital. This theoretically supports the applicability of the Resource-based View (RBV) theory to explain the mediating effect of psychological and social capital on the relationship between microfinance provisions and business growth. Research paper Keywords: Micro-enterprise, Business growth, Psychological capital, Social capital, Mediation, Microfinance institutions Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Nordin, N., Siti-Nabiha, A.K., & Kamalia, Z. (2019). Microfinancing Influence on Micro-Entrepreneurs Business Growth: Mediating Role of Psychological and Social Capital, Journal of Entrepreneurship, Business and Economics, 7(2), 130–161

The influence of collaborative learning style, reciprocity and extroversion on knowledge sharing via social media among UUM undergraduates

This quantitative study is aimed to study the relationship between collaborative learning style, reciprocity and extroversion on knowledge sharing via social media in Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM). A total of 400 set of questionnaires were distributed to undergraduate students from three (3) academic colleges which are College of Business (COB), College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) and College of Law, Government and International Studies (COLGIS). However, only 363 set of questionnaires were return and usable for analysis. Regression analysis was performed to tests the hypotheses of the study. The result indicated that collaborative learning, reciprocity and extroversion were positively significant to knowledge sharing behavior via social media. The findings were discussed and recommendations for the future research were also addressed

Measuring important success factors in knowledge sharing behavior among online business network users using analytical hierarchy process

Researchers believe that social network such as facebook is an innovative knowledge sharing technology. The increase use of social network each year has shown that these effective medium can be extended beyond simple communication within a community. A few studies were conducted to explore knowledge sharing behaviour among social network users. However, research study that focuses on online business network users still has not been explored yet. Communication among online business network users within the community is important in sharing and exchanging knowledge. This will lead to factors that motivate them to share knowledge through online communication. Identifying factors in online knowledge sharing behaviour is essential in order to improve their communication and business activities. Thus, this research is intended to identify the most important factors in knowledge sharing behaviour among online business network users by using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). AHP technique is used to prioritize eleven factors which are reciprocal benefits, altruism, mutual trust, identification, reputation, social network ties, shared vision, shared interest, computer self-efficacy, technology innovation and controllability. This study will benefit virtual entrepreneurs as it provide ways to recognize the important factors in sharing knowledge and to improve their communication, business activities and contribution to the existence of long term sustainability of online business through social network

The factors that contribute to the continuous usage of broadband technologies among youth in rural areas: A case of northern region of Malaysia

Despite the benefits of broadband technology in education and healthcare services, its usage in the rural areas is still low and Malaysia is not excluded. This situation leads to raising the question of long-term usage of the technology. Presently, there are less empirical study on the continuous usage of broadband technology among the youths particularly school children in the rural areas of Malaysia. The objective of this study is to determine the contributing factors for continuous usage of broadband technology among youths in the rural areas. Therefore, a research model was proposed consisting of eight contributing factors for continuous usage of broadband technology. Moreover, the study used quantitative approach by distributing 450 questionnaires to respondents in the northern region of Malaysia. However, only 393 questionnaires were returned which represent 87.33% response rate. The data collected were analyzed using a Structural Equation Model to investigate the relationship between contributing factors. The results showed that performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, compatibility, facilitating condition, service quality, user behavioural intention and user satisfaction are the significant contributing factors that must be in place to ensure the continuous usage of broadband among youth in the rural areas. Hence, this study contributes to the body of knowledge in Community Informatics by providing a framework for achieving long-term use of broadband technology among youths in the rural areas, through the integration of Information System Continuance Post Acceptance and Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology models. The factors identified may contribute as input to the government policy formulations and service providers to ensure continuous demand for broadband from the evidence extracted from this study. Continuous usage of broadband technology in the rural areas would have positive contributions on the academic performance, literacy among youths, bridging the digital divide in broadband usage, increase home business and national productivity

The Role of Demographic Variables on Knowledge-Sharing Behaviour among Academicians

Every organisation needs to recognize knowledge as an important asset for individuals as well as the organisation itself order to survive in competitive environment. Since knowledge sharing is a critical activity for academicians, it has to be enhanced by stimulating individuals to share their knowledge voluntarily with other individuals and to contribute to the organizational knowledge base. Hence, institutions should focus on motivating the academicians to share knowledge among themselves, across the departments, institutions, and industries; and to contribute to the knowledge base. Objective: To identify the role of demographic variables on knowledgesharing behaviour among academicians. Results: Every individual’s attitude is subject to his own personal traits and to the environment or surrounding that the individual belongs to or is attached with. In the university, knowledge is intensively created and disseminated through research and publication. This is the most probable due to the belief that individual knowledge is not necessarily easy to be retrieved. Thus academicians play their roles as knowledge providers by transferring and sharing their knowledge through written contributions, organisational communications, personal interaction, and communities of practices activities. Motivational factors may be categorized according to different age, gender, designation, and organizational tenure of the academicians. This topic prompts individuals to actually oblige in sharing the knowledge. The reason is due to the fact that knowledge-sharing actually give more benefits than pitfalls. Individuals should require motivation to exchange the knowledge for the organization to gain competitive advantage. Conclusion: This concept paper provides an insight on the role of demographic characteristics towards knowledge-sharing behaviour among the academicians

The Influence of Personal and Organizational Factors on Researchers’ Attitudes towards Sustainable Research Productivity in Saudi Universities

This paper studies organisational and personal factors affecting the behaviour of academic staff in Saudi universities. It seeks to investigate the beliefs of academic staff regarding the use of ICT and other factors to enhance the productivity of their scientific research. Also, this study aims to improve the sustainability of publication in Saudi universities. ICT includes using the library system for accessing research repository databases such as Science Direct, Web of Science, Scopus, etc. and other factors. The authors also developed the Importance Performance Map Analysis (IPMA) for these factors in order to provide guidelines for Saudi universities to build university systems to manage and measure the research productivity of academic staff. In summary, this research identifies factors critical to enhancing research productivity in Saudi universities. This will help to improve the sustainability of publication in Saudi universities. By enhancing the sustainability of publication, the reputation of Saudi universities will be improved and the reputation of academic staff in Saudi universities. As well the sustainability of publication will assist the promote of Saudi academic staff. The results show that personal factors such as personal use of ICT and organisational factors such as job satisfaction, university policy, IT funding, international collaboration and the level of ICT use in the university have positive effects on scientific research productivity among academic staff at Saudi universities.The authors wish to thank Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) under Research University Grant Vot-20H04, Malaysia Research University Network (MRUN) Vot 4L876 and the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS) Vot 5F073 supported under Ministry of Education Malaysia for the completion of the research. The work is partially supported by the project of the Grant Agency of Excellence, University of Hradec Kralove, FIM, Czech Republic (ID: 2206-2019) and by the SPEV project, University of Hradec Kralove, FIM, Czech Republic (ID: 2103–2019). This project is also partially supported by the grant TIN2016-75850-R from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness with FEDER funds