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A model for consumer knowledge contribution behavior: the roles of host firm management practices, technology effectiveness, and social capital

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Abstract

This study examines the effects of host firm management practices, social capital, and technological factors on consumer knowledge contribution behavior. Results from 403 respondents in a large firm-hosted virtual community showed that two host firm practices, promoting interaction and organizing offline activities, have positive effects on knowledge contribution behavior through the mediating role of social capital, while the practice of providing incentives has a negative effect. In addition, the impacts of social interaction ties and shared language on knowledge contribution behavior are stronger when the perceived effectiveness of the reputation system is high. The perceived effectiveness of media richness moderates the relationship between trust and knowledge contribution behavior by strengthening the relationship when the perceived effectiveness of media richness is high. Our study suggests that host firms can play an important role in promoting knowledge contributions in virtual communities; and they need to understand the consequences of different management practices, hence able to actively influence and encourage knowledge contribution in virtual communities.

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Acknowledgments

The research was funded by the National Social Science Foundation of China (11XGL015) and the National Science Foundation of China (71271166).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Schoool of Management, Xi’an Jiaotong University, 28 Xianning West Road, P.O. Box 2268, Xi’an, 710049, Shaanxi, China

    Haixin Liu, Renjing Liu & Guiquan Li

  2. Graduate School of Management, Clark University, Worcester, MA, 01610, USA

    Jing Zhang

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  1. Haixin Liu
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Correspondence to Haixin Liu.

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Liu, H., Zhang, J., Liu, R. et al. A model for consumer knowledge contribution behavior: the roles of host firm management practices, technology effectiveness, and social capital. Inf Technol Manag 15, 255–270 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10799-014-0199-8

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