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The role of social media in supporting knowledge integration: A social capital analysis

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Abstract

Internet of things (IoT) is a current trend that reveals the next generation Internet-based information architecture, the convergence of social networks and IoT solutions is helpful to optimize relationships among objects. In order for IoT to take off in the IT sector, providers and other stakeholders must integrate knowledge successfully. In this study, we investigate the role of social media in supporting knowledge integration from a social capital perspective. Specifically, we propose that social media have the potential to facilitate the formation of employees’ social capital indicated by social networking, trust and shared language. These mediating variables will in turn positively affect knowledge integration. This research frame is validated with survey data collected from 262 Chinese working professionals. The results provide general empirical support for our hypotheses. In analogy with social media for human beings, the future direction of socialization among objects can be inspired by this study.

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Acknowledgments

This study is supported by the Hong Kong Scholars Program (No. XJ 2012-060); the National Natural Science Foundation of China grant (NSFC 71101037, NSFC 71101136) and NCET-12-0146.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Science and Technology of China; City University of HongKong, Hefei, 230026, China

    Xiongfei Cao, Hefu Liu & Jibao Gu

  2. Harbin Institute of Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Harbin, 150001, China

    Xitong Guo

Authors
  1. Xiongfei Cao
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  2. Xitong Guo
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  3. Hefu Liu
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  4. Jibao Gu
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Correspondence to Xitong Guo.

Appendix A

Appendix A

Table 5 Operationalization of constructs
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Cao, X., Guo, X., Liu, H. et al. The role of social media in supporting knowledge integration: A social capital analysis. Inf Syst Front 17, 351–362 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10796-013-9473-2

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