The Value of Knowledge Acquired via Online Social Capital: LinkedIn, a South African Perspective

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dc.citation.doihttps://doi.org/10.23962/10539/21656
dc.citation.issue18en_ZA
dc.contributor.authorMaharaj, Niresh
dc.contributor.authorNaicker, Visvanathan
dc.date.accessioned2017-01-18T10:26:51Z
dc.date.available2017-01-18T10:26:51Z
dc.date.issued2016-12-15
dc.description.abstractThis study investigated the value of a member’s online social capital, in the social networking platform LinkedIn, in the following areas: member’s subject matter proficiency, member’s firm’s problem solving ability, and member’s firm’s innovation process. The analytical framework used the concepts of social networks and online social networks (OSNs); social network ties; social capital and online social capital; knowledge and novel knowledge; communities of practice (CoPs); problem solving; and innovation. Quantitative methods were used, involving analysis of data collected from a sample of LinkedIn members residing in South Africa. It was apparent from the analysis that knowledge acquired on LinkedIn, relating to a member’s subject matter proficiency, benefited the member's firm. It was also evident that this knowledge contributed to the firm’s problem solving process. The data did not, however, confirm or refute the proposition that knowledge acquired by members on LinkedIn contributed to their firms’ innovation. An overall observation from the data was that members did not perceive substantial value from the knowledge available on LinkedIn. The authors therefore recommend that greater initiative be taken by members and firms to adopt open networking approaches, using online social networks such as LinkedIn, starting with attitudinal and policy considerations on the part of firms.en_ZA
dc.description.librarianCA2016en_ZA
dc.description.urlwww.wits.ac.za/linkcentre/ajicen_ZA
dc.identifier.citationMaharaj, N., & Naicker, V. (2016). The value of knowledge acquired via online social capital: LinkedIn, a South African perspective. The African Journal of Information and Communication (AJIC), 18, 55-74. https://doi.org/10.23962/10539/21656en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn2077-7205 (print version)
dc.identifier.issn2077-7213 (online version)
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10539/21656
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.23962/10539/21656
dc.journal.titleThe African Journal of Information and Communication (AJIC)en_ZA
dc.journal.volume18en_ZA
dc.language.isoenen_ZA
dc.publisherLINK Centre, University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), Johannesburgen_ZA
dc.subjectLinkedIn, social networks, social capital, online social capital, dense networks, weak ties, strong ties, structural holes, Web 2.0, online social networks (OSNs), subject matter proficiency, problem solving, novel knowledge, innovation, communities of practice (COPs)en_ZA
dc.titleThe Value of Knowledge Acquired via Online Social Capital: LinkedIn, a South African Perspectiveen_ZA
dc.typeArticleen_ZA
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AJIC Issue 18, 2016