Title: National culture and its effects on knowledge communication in online virtual communities

Authors: Keng Siau, Fiona Fui-Hoon Nah, Min Ling

Addresses: Department of Management, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588-0491, USA. ' Department of Management, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588-0491, USA. ' Department of Management, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588-0491, USA

Abstract: Online virtual communities provide a powerful means of knowledge sharing. Despite the prevalence of online virtual communities, there is a paucity of research to investigate the effect of national culture differences on knowledge sharing in online virtual communities. Are there differences between online virtual communities from different national cultures? This research studies the differences in knowledge-sharing activities between US-based and China-based online virtual communities. Hofstede|s dimensions of national culture serve as the theoretical foundation for this research.

Keywords: online communities; virtual communities; knowledge acquisition; knowledge dissemination; national culture; electronic business; e-business; web based communities; knowledge sharing; China; USA; United States.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEB.2007.015450

International Journal of Electronic Business, 2007 Vol.5 No.5, pp.518 - 532

Published online: 17 Oct 2007 *

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