Research On Knowledge Sharing In Virtual Communities

Not only the opportunities to contact with consumers virtual communities(VCs) provides for the businessmen,but also it offers a plat for consumers to share their information and knowledge.In those issues researched,knowledge sharing in virtual communities has induced great consideration,because it is the important function and a necessary condition for the survive and development of VC.In-depth understanding of the reasons why members share their knowledge in VC can help us to manage VC better, and to design effective policies for promoting knowledge sharing in VCs.Fristly,this study analyzes the types of VCs and its business value,emphasizes the importance and meanings of knowledge sharing in VCs,then explains the interactive models of it.Secondly, on the basis of reading plenty of related research papers,this study concludes the theories applied in knowledge sharing in VCs,which gives a clear description about this issue.Thirdly,through the conclusion of empirical and surveyed studies,this study classifies the factors that influence members'knowledge sharing in VCs into environmental and individual factors.Further,the environmental factors include the factors of physical and social environment,and the individual factors consist of motivation,personal and demographic characteristics.At last, according to the theories and influencing factors concluded above, this study establishes the model of knowledge sharing in VCs. The model sufficiently considers the environmental and individual factors that influence individual knowledge sharing in VCs,and reveals the relationship among member's behaviors,the subject and the environment around him.It offers a theoretical framework for understanding knowledge sharing in VCs,and provides foundation and references for further empirical research.