Title: Learning through ICT-enabled social networks

Authors: Liqiong Deng, Marshall Scott Poole

Addresses: Department of Management, University of West Georgia, Carrollton, GA 30118, USA. ' Department of Speech Communication, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA

Abstract: Utilising Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to build effective learning networks in organisations has received attention from both practitioners and researchers in recent years. Going beyond the limited focus on the structural characteristics of networks in prior research, this paper develops a theoretical model that specifies how the structural properties of network ties and the quality of interaction influence the occurrence of single- and double-loop learning within ICT-enabled social networks. It provides insights into how ICT can be utilised to bring people together and form a productive environment conducive to learning. The model is expected to have theoretical and practical implications for the development of ICT-enabled social networks for individual learning.

Keywords: information technology; communications; ICT; ICT-enabled social networking; single-loop learning; double-loop learning; network structural properties; quality of interaction; learning networks; organisational learning; individual learning.

DOI: 10.1504/IJITM.2008.018655

International Journal of Information Technology and Management, 2008 Vol.7 No.4, pp.374 - 391

Published online: 04 Jun 2008 *

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