Knowledge sharing in social networks: considering the role of political skill and trust

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to bring a more individual focus to social networks in theorizing the social process of knowledge sharing.Design/methodology/approachThe theoretical model proposes that political skill will shape an individual's social network. Further, political skill within a network will influence the degree of complex knowledge sharing, which likely happens through the mechanism of affective- and cognitive-based trust.FindingsTheoretical implications and future research directions are discussed.Originality/valueKnowledge sharing is an inherently social process and as such occurs within the context of social networks in an organization. However, research to date has not fully explored the details of how and why complex knowledge sharing happens within a social network. Generally, theory on social networks has focused on structural qualities of a network, rather than the individual characteristics of the members of that network. This paper brings a more individual focus to social networks in theorizing the social process of knowledge sharing.

Social media as a tool of knowledge sharing in academia: an empirical study using valance, instrumentality and expectancy (VIE) approach

“…With increase in the social media usage for knowledge sharing, the stakeholders of higher education institutions would feel the importance of using the social media platform. The stakeholders’ (students, faculties and other administrative staffs of educational institutions) intention for knowledge sharing through other means, other than through social media platform, would not help them more to gain effective inputs from many other knowledgeable persons who might have previous experience in that issue of discussion (Sugathan et al , 2018; Seitz and Misra, 2020). Hence, the exchange of knowledge through social media appears to have additional advantage over and above other processes of sharing of knowledge, if the social media is trustworthy (Reagans and McEvly, 2003; Charband and Navimipour, 2018).…”

“…Social media is an effective instrument to transfer knowledge (Whittington, 2012). The applications of social media can be conceptualized through different parameters (Seitz and Misra, 2020). The parameters can be briefly classified as social networking sites (SNS) such as Facebook through which the academics can exchange their knowledge.…”

“…The academic stakeholders can also use different web applications for retrieving, traversing, and presenting information as per their requirements (Giunchiglia et al, 2018). With the help of these parameters, the stakeholders of higher institutions can easily exchange their information, knowledge-content and other academic issues in a swift and cost effective manner (Seitz and Misra, 2020). In the last few years, a considerable number of organizations have used social media to meaningfully facilitate knowledge sharing among their stakeholders (Pfisterer, Streim and Hampe, 2013;Bughin and Chui, 2013).…”

“…Social media is an effective instrument to transfer knowledge (Whittington, 2012). The applications of social media can be conceptualized through different parameters (Seitz and Misra, 2020). The parameters can be briefly classified as social networking sites, such as Facebook, through which the academics can exchange their knowledge, and instant messaging application platforms such as WhatsApp, which is useful for real-time knowledge sharing by the academic stakeholders using text, pictures and so on.…”

“…In the past few years, a considerable number of organizations have used social media to meaningfully facilitate knowledge sharing among their stakeholders (Pfisterer et al , 2013; Bughin and Chui, 2013). So far as the educational organizations are concerned (especially higher education institutions), knowledge sharing among the students, the faculties and between students and faculties is expected to fetch better result (Grace, 2009; Goswami and Agrawal, 2019; Seitz and Misra, 2020). This exchange of knowledge among the stakeholders of the higher education institutions would be facilitated if it is done by the help of social media (Moskaliuk and Kimmerle, 2009; Giudice and Della Peruta, 2016).…”