Effective use of online professional networks for knowledge sharing in Sri Lankan software industry

Abstract

Knowledge is a key assest ofthe software development companies. Software comapanies are considered as knowledge intensive companies.The software industry is dependent to a great extent on intellectual capital, as opposed to physical capital in order to compete in this competitive industry. Knowledge can be categerozied as either tacit or explicit knowldege. Capturing knowledge is more crtical and knowledge sharing will aid for such activities. This research invetigates how IT professtionals in Sri Lankan Software Industry use their online professtional networks for knowledge sharing behaviour. After the rising of 2.0 technologies, online participations have increased tremendously among the knowldege workers. The success of the online professtional networks depends on the participation, engagement and social interaction of peers, which leads to knowldege sharing. Without frequent interaction and persistent interaction, it is uncertain whether knowldege sharing can take place. Online professtional networking provides a shared work place that allow peer workes to interact with each other, provides transparent discussion forums and continues exposure to best practices and learning by observations. Online networks provide centalized meeting places for community building. The literature mainly discusses the theroies and concepts used for knowdege sharing through online communities. Mainly four theories are described in the litrature part i.e Social Capital Theory, Social Cognative Theory, Social Exchange Theory and Habitual Domain Theory. Based on these theories, main dimensions were indetified for knowledge sharing behaviour through online virtual communities. The Conceptual Model was derived from these factors for determining the quality and quantity ofthe shared knowledge through online professtional networks. Infonnation was gathered by distributing questionnaires over a target population of 370. All questionnaires were based on the theories and concepts discussed under chapter 2. Factors related to virtual communities were identified as independent variables and knowledge sharing behavior was identified as dependent variables. Data obtained from each of the research instruments was then statistically analyzed. The Pearson Correlation analysis showed there are positive relationships between social interaction ties, identification, self related experience, personal and community related expectation, norm of reciprocity, trust and privacy with the knowledge sharing behavior in the online professional communities and there was a negative relationship with the organizational level support.