Understanding the Different Priorities of Web 2.0 Technologies for Knowledge Acquisition and Assimilation for Developing an Organization's Potential Absorptive Capacity

Abstract

ABSTRACT The aim of this paper is to explore the relative importance of web 2.0 tools for an organizations' ability to identify and assimilate valuable external information. Theoretically, we relate these knowledge processing abilities to organizational absorptive capacity. As the usage of Web 2.0 tools to manage knowledge in organizations is becoming common practice, we need to understand which tool supports what kind of knowledge processing activity best. For this purpose, we developed a research model linking a Web 2.0 taxonomy with multiple criteria feeding into Potential Absorptive Capacity (PACAP). Based on the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), we allowed experts with different roles and backgrounds to assess the relative importance of different Web 2.0 tools in regard to their value for each assessment dimensions. Results show that while Wiki-based tools followed by Web conferences and Blogs are most important for external knowledge acquisition, Email based strategies become most important for assimilating knowledge internally. Our results offer valuable implications for conducting effective knowledge-acquisition and assimilation practices in organizations based on peer-driven networking and information sharing in the Web 2.0 world