Abstract
The rationale behind traditional knowledge management initiatives is to create, capture, share, organize, and use intangible assets such as organizational knowledge. Information systems have been playing a vital role in the implementation of knowledge management practices and systems. Recently, organizations are adopting new forms of information and communication technologies such as social software to encourage employees to create and share knowledge. This article explores the adoption of social software tools by Indian knowledge workers working for information technology consultancy firms. A mixed method approach has been applied, and drawing on social dilemma theory and Hofstede’s cultural theory, this study discusses the factors affecting the adoption of social software by knowledge workers. A quantitative descriptive-explanatory study and a qualitative exploratory study have been employed to gather data from Indian organizations. It was found that even though information technology consultancy firms are at the forefront of deploying social software, the active use of these tools is rather limited among knowledge workers. The present study sheds light on both personal and organizational factors that hinder the adoption of such tools. Finally, on the basis of these research findings we aim to contribute to managerial implications for organizations wishing to adopt social media.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Alivelu Manga Mukkamala
Alivelu Manga Mukkamala is currently working as a research assistant at IT University of Copenhagen, Denmark. She received a master’s degree in service management from Copenhagen Business School, Denmark in 2012. As part of her master’s thesis, she investigated the adoption of social software and factors influencing it in the Indian organizations. Her research interests are knowledge management, social media, and cultural aspects.
Liana Razmerita
Liana Razmerita is associate professor, at the Department of International Business Communication, at Copenhagen Business School in Denmark. She has published over 60 articles in refereed journals, conference proceedings, and book chapters. Her work has been published in journals like: Online Information Review, Journal of Organizational Computing, and Electronic Commerce, Business Information Review, Journal of Applied Artificial Intelligence, Interacting with Computers and IEEE Systems, Man and Cybernetics. Her current research focuses on the use of ICT in an organizational context and in learning environments. An important strand of her current research investigates how social media is used to manage knowledge, communication, collaboration, innovation, and learning