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Dimensions of User Behavior in Enterprise Social Networks

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Social Knowledge Management in Action

Part of the book series: Knowledge Management and Organizational Learning ((IAKM,volume 3))

Abstract

The analysis of user behavior in online communities is a prominent topic in social media research. As such, user behavior is often analyzed using a set of metrics that describe the user’s participation behavior and structural position in the social network. Yet, for Enterprise Social Networks (ESN), i.e. internally used social networking platforms, such research is lacking. While prior studies have found users to engage in knowledge-intensive interactions, e.g. discussing and developing new ideas, little is known about how to conceptualize and measure ESN user behavior. Being able to measure user behavior, however, is an important prerequisite for the identification of knowledge management-related roles in the context of ESN.

Against this backdrop, in this chapter we derive 30 metrics that characterize the participation behavior, message content and structural position of ESN users of an Australian professional services firm. Based on a factor analysis, we identify nine distinct dimensions of ESN user behavior: Social dispersion, engagement, focus, information sharing, discussing, information seeking, response time, receiving information, and tagging. With this research we contribute to the literature by transferring concepts and methods of organization science and social media research to an ESN context. Further, our approach forms the basis for the identification of different types of knowledge actors, which might ultimately help to improve organizational knowledge transparency.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Information Systems, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany

    Janine Hacker & Rebecca Bernsmann

  2. The University of Sydney Business School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Kai Riemer

Authors
  1. Janine Hacker
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  2. Rebecca Bernsmann
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  3. Kai Riemer
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Correspondence to Janine Hacker .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Management, Science and Technology, Open University, Heerlen, The Netherlands

    Remko Helms

  2. School of Information Management, Victoria University of Wellington, Lambton Quay, Pipitea Campus, New Zealand

    Jocelyn Cranefield

  3. The Courseware Company, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Jurriaan van Reijsen

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Hacker, J., Bernsmann, R., Riemer, K. (2017). Dimensions of User Behavior in Enterprise Social Networks. In: Helms, R., Cranefield, J., van Reijsen, J. (eds) Social Knowledge Management in Action. Knowledge Management and Organizational Learning, vol 3. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-45133-6_7

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