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Social media adds to knowledge sharing; Research into the motivations for using social media for work purposes and its influence on the degree of knowledge sharing

Zande, Judith van der (2013) Social media adds to knowledge sharing; Research into the motivations for using social media for work purposes and its influence on the degree of knowledge sharing.

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Abstract:This research firstly investigates the motivations of employees regarding the use of social media for work purposes and secondly if this use has an effect on knowledge sharing within organizations. The study was accomplished with the help of three organizations for youth care. In total 392 employees participated by completing a questionnaire and two focus groups were conducted. Regarding what motivates employees to use social media for work purposes, the study shows that 20.4% of the actual use, and 42.7% of the intended use of social media are motivated by information, social interaction, personal identity, entertainment and knowledge sharing. The search for information and entertainment are motivations that significantly predict the use of social media in the work place. Besides these motivations, private life experience with social media and the workplace attitude towards social media for work purposes also have a direct effect on its use . Regarding the effect on knowledge sharing, the study shows that using social media for work purposes has a positive effect on knowledge sharing within the entire organization. The degree of knowledge sharing is influenced by the organizational culture towards its use. The more the organizational culture is arranged on the sharing of knowledge, the more knowledge there will actually be shared. Finally, this study provides insight into what employees think of the results themselves and provides recommendations to improve the effect of using social media on knowledge sharing. The most important recommendations are that organizations should design social media platforms so that they can fulfill the motivations of employees, that they make sure that their employees become experienced with the use of social media and a good organization culture is created that promotes knowledge sharing. In the discussion implications and study suggestions for future research are presented.
Item Type:Essay (Master)
Faculty:BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences
Subject:05 communication studies
Programme:Communication Studies MSc (60713)
Link to this item:https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/63098
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