Online Community Participation
Samer Faraj, Molly McLure Wasko and Steven L. Johnson (2008). The structure and processes of electronic knowledge networks in I. Becerra-Fernandez and D. Leidner (eds.), Advances in Management Information Systems, Knowledge Management: An Evolutionary View of the Field. Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe, Inc. [online PDF]
Abstract: Advances in information and communication technologies have enabled the creation of “online communities,” where individuals congregate via a shared technology to engage in a variety of social interactions. In addition to purely social communities (such as Facebook or MySpace), some communities develop for the primary purpose of knowledge exchange, creating electronic communities of practice akin to an online help desk. We refer to these communities as electronic knowledge networks (EKNs). Given the success and proliferation of EKNs openly available on the Internet, organizations are investigating the creation and management of EKNs as a crucial knowledge management technology to support intra-organizational knowledge exchange.
This chapter reviews the literature on two key issues that are essential for understanding knowledge exchange in EKNs: why people participate and how these networks are structured to ensure sustainability over time. Findings suggest that individuals participate in EKNs due to self-interest, such as gaining access to information and advice, and enhancing one’s reputation or influence. In addition to self-interest, research also indicates that participation in EKNs is also driven by high levels of social capital, such as feelings of trust and obligation, that stem from the social interactions in the network. In terms of network sustainability, research indicates the EKNs are predominately structured as scale-free networks, where the vast majority of effort is contributed by a small minority of individuals. Participation in these networks also exhibits certain underlying patterns of exchange, such as patterns of reciprocity, generalized exchange, and, finally, preferential attachment. This chapter ends by suggesting the implications of this research for organizations, and areas in need of future research.
Adrian Yeow, Steven L. Johnson and Samer Faraj (2006), “Lurking: Legitimate or Illegitimate Peripheral Participation?,” International Conference of Information Systems, (ICIS 2006), December 2006, Milwaulkee, Wisconsin. [online PDF]
Abstract: By sponsoring, promoting or simply monitoring virtual communities related to their products, work processes, and other topics of interest, organizations leverage the efforts, insights and abilities of individuals inside and outside their organization. Lurkers are participants who persistently demure from engaging in the core activities that sustain a virtual community. Because virtual communities are perpetuated through voluntary contributions, the persistent peripheral participation of lurkers is sometimes viewed negatively as social loafing or free-riding. Alternatively, an individual may engage in legitimate peripheral participation when their passive monitoring of group activities educates, socializes and otherwise prepares them for more effective contribution.
We reconcile these conflicting views of lurking with individual- and community-level models of peripheral participation that include a parsimonious typology of virtual communities. Through empirical tests based on over 395,000 observations gathered over 5 months from 548 online discussion forums we demonstrate how lurking effects growth in site membership and participation. We conclude that lurking as legitimate or illegitimate peripheral participation is context-dependent and a more complex, nuanced activity than previously theorized and measured.
