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What Factors Influence Users’ Willingness to Share Knowledge in Online Groups and How?

Author

Listed:
  • Xuhui Wang

    (Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications)

  • Shengtai Zhang

    (Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications)

  • Luyi Qiu

    (Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications)

  • Guoquan Zhang

    (Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications)

  • Na Liu

    (Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications)

Abstract

The online group, which has played an increasingly important role in people’s lives, accelerates the knowledge sharing and accumulation. Different from other virtual communities, the purpose of knowledge sharing of online groups is to pursue “relationship” instead of “attention.” To better improve the efficiency of knowledge sharing in online group, what factors affect users’ sharing willingness and how should be explored from the perspective of relationship strength. Therefore, this paper constructs an evolutionary game model to study the dynamic process of knowledge sharing in online group under different relationship strength. The results show that: (1) the relationship strength, the value of shared knowledge, the additional and synergy benefits, and the costs including speculative cost, direct cost, and risk cost can influence the willingness to share knowledge in online group. (2) Sharing willingness is positively correlated with the relationship strength, synergies, additional benefits and speculative costs. (3) However, the willingness is negatively correlated with direct costs and risk costs. (4) In online groups with different relationship strength, the value of shared knowledge has different influences on users’ sharing willingness.

Suggested Citation

  • Xuhui Wang & Shengtai Zhang & Luyi Qiu & Guoquan Zhang & Na Liu, 2024. "What Factors Influence Users’ Willingness to Share Knowledge in Online Groups and How?," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 15(1), pages 1-18, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jknowl:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1007_s13132-022-01082-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s13132-022-01082-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

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