Building the Knowledge Society on the Internet: Sharing and Exchanging Knowledge in the Networked Environments

Citation

Schutte, M. (2009), "Building the Knowledge Society on the Internet: Sharing and Exchanging Knowledge in the Networked Environments", Online Information Review, Vol. 33 No. 1, pp. 207-208. https://doi.org/10.1108/14684520910944472

As stated in the preface, the aim of this book is to present a variety of viewpoints on the models, perspectives and approaches that can aid in our understanding of knowledge exchange in networked environments. The editor has successfully managed to select 17 chapters that can stand on their own or, as arranged in this volume, build on one another.

The chapters are organised in two sections: Models and Applications. The first section (Chapters 1 to 7) focuses on the conceptual modelisation of the context in which knowledge exchanges take place. The second section (Chapters 8 to 17) attends to particular issues of knowledge exchange in specific contexts.

Chapters 1 to 3 deal with the social factors that have an impact on knowledge exchange. Respectively, the chapters progress from the formal and informal organisational factors that shape the behaviour and knowledge‐sharing practices of individuals; the crucial dual role that action team leaders play as recipients and sources of knowledge; and in the context of virtual and networked organisations, the impact that different cultural values and perceptions could have on knowledge sharing.

Chapters 4 and 5 contemplate the role that technology might play in knowledge management programmes. Chapter 4 examines the use of ontologies to represent and connect individuals' knowledge, and how these ontologies can evolve autonomously by interacting with other personal ontologies. Chapter 5 sets forth the notion that computer‐mediated communication consists of a family of technological applications that differ in their effectiveness and suitability as appropriate channels when exchanging knowledge and information. Chapters 6 and 7 attempt to bridge the divide between knowledge management and economics. Respectively, the chapters pay attention to the market that is created between the source and the receiver, as well as mechanisms that can bolster or impede knowledge markets; and, shifting the focus to virtual communities, the integrated relationship between transaction cost, expectancy value and knowledge sharing.

Chapters 8 to 12 concentrate on applications within open or non‐profit environments, while Chapters 13 to 17 consider applications within business contexts. Chapter 8 investigates the principle factors affecting the dissemination of scientific knowledge on the web, in addition to the challenges faced by the open access initiative. Chapter 9 examines the knowledge flows within a global, interorganisational electronic network of practice. Chapter 10 considers the university context and how the effectiveness of knowledge exchange processes is affected by the dynamics of the social structures in online communities. Chapter 11 brings to light how the internet could at once be a blessing and a curse in crisis and disaster management situations when the sharing of complex information among numerous entities and individuals is a necessity. Chapter 12 explores the use of internet technologies in tactical military operations characterised by critical and complex decision making.

Chapter 13 puts forth the idea that certain firms can act as knowledge gatekeepers in a networked environment by creating a shared social and technological platform. Chapter 14 explores independent businesses as online knowledge mediators that facilitate knowledge exchange among business partners. Chapter 15 continues with this theme by addressing the exchange of knowledge in the context of virtual enterprises. In Chapter 16 the authors underscore the threats to the security of proprietary knowledge that is created by the internet. Chapter 17 combines approaches developed in knowledge management field with elements of communication theories, and how this relates to the knowledge an organisation communicates about its identify and values by means of its web pages.

The underlying theme of all the chapters is that IT applications, and in particular the internet, have the potential and ability to speed up the exchange of information and knowledge. The application can only be optimally and successfully used when certain social, cultural and organisational factors are understood and managed. In this regard the book makes a valuable contribution by means of carefully researched chapters, each supplemented by a section on future research directions, comprehensive references and suggestions for additional reading.

The only negative comments about this volume could be directed to some instances of spelling mistakes that should have been corrected and an insufficient two‐page index that may hamper the location of unique and interesting concepts.

The book is aimed at scholars and researchers, as well as postgraduate students. In particular, the careful analysis and exposition of concepts such as the dimensions of knowledge, the differences between knowledge transfer, sharing and exchange, as well as the unique and rich models presented, might be of particular value to the last group.