earticle

영어

A challenge in fostering virtual communities is the supply of knowledge, namely member willingness to contribute knowledge to other members. Motivated by such concerns, this study formulates and tests a theoretical model to explain knowledge contribution in virtual communities. The model employs social capital theory to account for interpersonal relationship factors which affect knowledge contribution and identity theory to account for individual and group factors which affect knowledge contribution. The model is validated through a survey of virtual community members. The results reveal that cohesion, reciprocity and self-presentation significantly impact knowledge contribution and that commitment and group identification do not appear to impact knowledge contribution. In addition to contributing to the field of knowledge management, the results of this study strengthen knowledge management practice.