Social networking for knowledge management : groupfeatures as personal knowledge management tools

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: With the emergence of Web 2.0 (social network platforms) some Knowledge Managementtheorists saw the potential for incorporating its collaborative and networking features inKnowledge Management Systems. However, the consensus is that harnessing Web 2.0features for Knowledge Management is still in its infancy and according to some it seems thatWeb 2.0 success in the social sphere is hard to translate to the work context.The thesis argues that Web 2.0 primarily facilitates Personal Knowledge Management (PKM)and in this way indirectly contributes to Organisational Knowledge Management.Furthermore not all Web 2.0 features are equally useful in facilitating Personal KnowledgeManagement. The thesis identifies the group features of social network platforms as theprime locations for networking and learning.The thesis is theoretically based on Cheong and Tsui's PKM 2.0 model, in particular theInterpersonal Knowledge Transferring phase that in turn is based on Nonaka's SECI model ofknowledge conversion.The thesis starts out with considering the distinction and relationship between OrganisationalKnowledge Management (OKM) and Personal Knowledge Management (PKM). ThereafterCheong and Tsui's PKM 2.0 model is described as well as Nonaka's SECI model. The Web2.0 phenomenon is introduced through a literature review of various studies on the usefulnessof social network platforms and the group features are specifically highlighted. A survey isconducted among users of a particular Web 2.0 group feature, based on questions developedfrom the SECI and PKM 2.0 models.The thesis comes to the conclusion that the group features of Web 2.0 social networkplatforms are useful for Knowledge Management, because it is indeed a component of users'Personal Knowledge Management.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University