Title: Investigating image usage and tacit knowledge sharing in online communities
Authors: Rachaneewan Nilmanat
Addresses: School of Information Systems and Technology, Claremont Graduate University, 150 E 10th St., Claremont, CA 91711, USA
Abstract: The most influential role of the internet today is bringing people together to share experiences and advices. Since experience sharing is a primary source of tacit knowledge, it is possible that online communities| users from around the world are sharing their tacit knowledge while they are revealing their personal experiences and giving advices. This study investigates how online community users use images to share their tacit knowledge. The results from this study suggests that image usage can assist online community users in tacit knowledge sharing by helping these users share knowledge that is difficult to communicate, problematic, and contextual easier.
Keywords: virtual communities; web based communities; online communities; internet; world wide web; online discussions; online learning; e-learning; electronic learning; knowledge management; KM; knowledge sharing; tacit knowledge; image usage; images; imagery; shared experiences; personal experiences; advice; innovation.
International Journal of Innovation and Learning, 2011 Vol.10 No.4, pp.350 - 364
Published online: 26 Nov 2014 *
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