Social networking technologies and knowledge sharing in organizations

This talk addresses an issues, deeply felt in next generation networks, concerning the management of group communications in scenarios characterized by the massive presence of Internet of Things devices acting as “prosumers” (consumer&producer) of services based on the exchange of huge data amounts. This will put a strain on existing networking primitives and their efficient management will be possible only if new paradigms are made available. Starting from this assumption, the talk will discuss the possibility of leveraging Social Networking and Software Defined Networking technologies and concepts towards the definition of a novel network primitive for the Internet of Things. The new primitive, called Sociocast, has the potential to enable trusted group-oriented communications, in-network publish&subscribe mechanisms, dynamic and selective firewalling, flexible data casting. During the talk a distributed architectural solution is presented, some performance results shown, and open research issues discussed.

Internet users are becoming increasingly social in their online information behavior, as shown by a growing trend of social media adoption in the past decade. Social interaction patterns in this new space are governed by the technological affordances in the infrastructure and membership to the community, yet at times also by individual emotional needs for seeking social support. In the consumer health domain, social networking technology and consumer health information needs combine to show that even within the same community, relationships are not expressed in the same manner across various computer mediated communication (CMC) formats. The motivation for this research comes from an increasing need to understand the patterns of social interactions online, especially of e-patients using the Internet as a health resource. Frequently, e-patients use social networking platforms to teach each other about conditions and treatments (Civan and Pratt, 2007; Wright and Bell, 2003). Social networking sites are predicted to increase in popularity as a way for people to socialize online as an extension of their physical environment. Online community tools include the popular text-based communication formats such as posting status updates, discussion boards and profile pages. While many previous studies of online support communities identified sociability factors such as types of social support (i.e. informational support, emotional support) exchanged in online support groups and health outcomes, there is a gap in research literature concerning the design of software interface architecture. The central focus of this research investigated the impact of software features on online supportive communication behavior across multiple computer-mediated communication (CMC) formats. This research contributes insights to opportunities for design and implementation of social media technologies for online health support communities; scholarly literature regarding online support communities, and inform policy makers who determine parameters for both design and management of online health support communities. The outcome of this study can contribute to improving online intervention programs by targeting specific functions of social network sites.

The 2009 Australian Defence White Paper directs the Australian Defence Force (ADF) to support disaster relief operations undertaken by relevant agencies in Asia and, more specifically, in support of neighbouring Asia-Pacific nations. The urgency of this task is underscored both by projected increases in the frequency of natural disasters, and the likelihood of increasingly severe consequences as a result of population growth and increasing urban density along coastal zones and inland waterways. Asia is one of the world's most natural disaster-afflicted areas, and it contains some of the world's most technologically-advanced regions. The role and usage of social media and social network technologies in disaster relief activities are becoming broader and increasingly important in afflicted communities, as evidenced in the 2010 Haiti earthquake and 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami crisis. It is vital for the ADF to understand the utility of social media and social network technologies as a 'tool' to support disaster relief operations. This paper considers the conjunction of disaster relief and evolving social media and social network technologies in Asia. A conceptual framework is developed where morphological analysis and soft systems techniques are applied using an indicative example to demonstrate how the ADF might enhance its ability to respond to natural disasters in Asia through the use of social media and social network, noting this is not an articulation of official ADF policy or guidance. The framework has the potential to provide strategic direction to the ADF's force development and operational response processes. It would be beneficial for disaster relief agencies and Defence to learn and leverage from each other's complementary role.

In the context of growing interest in both Mobile-Internet convergence and Web 2.0 social technologies, this article investigates the business opportunities derived from offering Social Applications in the convergent scenario, particularly regarding Social Network and Content Sharing services. Given the business model structural deficiencies identified in literature for this type of convergent services, the investigation is oriented towards the role of the technology delivery channels (either Internet and/or Mobile) and revenue appropriation strategies. A mixed-methods research strategy was employed consisting of a cross-sectional survey of 124 Social Application services offered in Spanish language and seven case studies with representative Social Network and Content Sharing services. While the aim of the survey was to map and identify the overall main characteristics and business model dimensions of Social Applications, the case studies' objective was to understand the strategic reasoning behind business model design and evolution. The research offered a detailed view on the dynamics of Social Network and Content Sharing services, showing how the revenue strategies are tightly linked to the technological delivery channel. Finally, six critical success factors for business models of Content Sharing and Social Network services were identified.

In recent years there has been rapid growth in cloud computing and social networking technologies. Cloud computing shifts the computing resources to a third party, eliminating the need to purchase, configure and maintain those resources. With the incentive of lowered operational costs in software, hardware and human effort, many companies are considering the use of cloud services. Likewise, social networks have seen massive growth, with millions of Internet users actively participating across various social networking websites. Even corporations have begun using social networks as a means to market and reach their customers. This paper will survey the current issues in cloud computing and social networks and how these technologies are being used together.

Social networking technology is a new and promising view of IT organization management, allowing for a deeper understanding of the organization’s internal relationships, structure, and social dynamics. This article examines modern approaches and prospects for developing social networking technologies in managing an IT organization based on innovative leadership. The article’s primary purpose is to study modern approaches and prospects for developing social networking technologies as applied tools in IT organization management based on innovative leadership. The article is a theoretical research work that defines the prospects for further research in organizational management. It is expected that the study’s results will reveal the importance of social networks in the context of innovative leadership and justify the effective use of social networking technologies to improve the performance of an IT organization. In addition, identifying the main components that influence the effectiveness of innovation leadership will enable IT organization leaders to effectively implement innovation leadership strategies and contribute to the successful integration of innovations in the organizational environment. The study of this topic is of practical importance. It can be used to develop human resource management strategies and improve the mechanisms for implementing innovations in the organizational environment. Moreover, the research will offer new insights into how social network structures can be optimized to foster a culture of continuous innovation. Given this, the article’s author seeks to consider and study the effectiveness of innovative leadership through the prism of social network theory since she assumes that the structure of the organizational social network can influence its effectiveness.

Peer-based prevention programs for homeless youth are complicated by the potential for reinforcing high-risk behaviors among participants. The goal of this study is to understand how homeless youth could be linked to positive peers in prevention programming by understanding where in social and physical space positive peers for homeless youth are located, how these ties are associated with substance use, and the role of social networking technologies (e.g., internet and cell phones) in this process. Personal social network data were collected from 136 homeless adolescents in Los Angeles, CA. Respondents reported on composition of their social networks with respect to: home-based peers and parents (accessed via social networking technology; e.g., the internet, cell phone, texting), homeless peers and agency staff (accessed face-to-face) and whether or not network members were substance-using or non-substance-using. Associations between respondent’s lifetime cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine use and recent (previous 30 days) alcohol and marijuana use were assessed by the number of non-substance-using versus substance-using ties in multivariate linear regression models. 43% of adolescents reported a non-substance-using home-based tie. More of these ties were associated with less recent alcohol use. 62% of adolescents reported a substance-using homeless tie. More of these ties were associated with more recent marijuana use as well as more lifetime heroin and methamphetamine use. For homeless youth, who are physically disconnected from positive peers, social networking technologies can be used to facilitate the sorts of positive social ties that effective peer-based prevention programs require.

The modern knowledge economy has transformed library and information organizations to adopt and embrace digital social media platforms. Proliferation and growth of social media and social networking technologies continue to play pivotal roles in establishment and operation of digital library and information systems in organizations. The purpose of the chapter is to examine the extent to which information professionals and practitioners understand the impact of social media and social networking technologies on digital library and information systems. The author also analyzes how information professionals manage and promote the adherence to copyright and intellectual property laws in digital library contexts. This chapter specifically discusses the rationale for social media and social networking in digital library and information systems; emerging social media platforms and their applications; legal aspects of social media, copyright and intellectual property protection, and risk management; as well as professional ethics and guidance on social media.

Since its introduction in the early 21st century, mobile social media have played an indispensable part in contemporary human experiences. The convergence of social networking and mobile technologies and services creates a fascinating circumstance because the pervasive nature of mobile social networking technologies has impacted on users' privacy. The chapter employed a mixed research method to collect and analyze mobile social media users' experiences and privacy concerns in the age of Big Data. A total of 57 participants were included in this study. Collected data was analyzed by examining mobile social media users' experiences and their concerns over privacy. Findings from this study showed the rising concerns over personal privacy as a result of convergence of mobile social media and Big Data practices by the advertising industry. Theoretical and practical implications were discussed.

BackgroundInternet social networking tools and the emerging web 2.0 technologies are providing a new way for web users and health workers in information sharing and knowledge dissemination. Based on the characters of immediate, two-way and large scale of impact, the internet social networking tools have been utilized as a solution in emergency response during disasters. This paper highlights the use of internet social networking in disaster emergency response and public health management of disasters by focusing on a case study of the typhoon Morakot disaster in Taiwan.DiscussionIn the case of typhoon disaster in Taiwan, internet social networking and mobile technology were found to be helpful for community residents, professional emergency rescuers, and government agencies in gathering and disseminating real-time information, regarding volunteer recruitment and relief supplies allocation. We noted that if internet tools are to be integrated in the development of emergency response system, the accessibility, accuracy, validity, feasibility, privacy and the scalability of itself should be carefully considered especially in the effort of applying it in resource poor settings.SummaryThis paper seeks to promote an internet-based emergency response system by integrating internet social networking and information communication technology into central government disaster management system. Web-based networking provides two-way communication which establishes a reliable and accessible tunnel for proximal and distal users in disaster preparedness and management.

The aim of this study is to reveal Open Education related social media usage in Turkey through social network analyses. To this end, the most widely used social media network in Turkey, Facebook, was chosen. All the pages and groups created on Facebook related to Open Education were found. A total of 207 groups and 521 pages were accessed and entered into the social network analysis. Within the scope of this study, the density and centrality features of the network were analyzed for groups whereas the density, centrality, and degrees features of the network were analyzed for pages. The study's results revealed that while pages and groups related to programs emphasizing current job opportunities and student support services were more actively used, commercial accounts attempted to exploit students' exam anxiety instead of generating actual content. The findings also revealed that well structured institutional pages appeal to students and have the potential to reach high levels of popular in short periods of time.

National Institute of Mental Health.

Learning engagement is essential for fruitful and meaningful learning outcomes. Although many researchers have collectively claimed that social networking technologies in the Web2.0 era possess great potential to foster learning engagement, the existing literature demonstrates the pedagogical significance of more empirical and systematical inquiries into their applications for effective teaching and learning in various educational contexts. A social networking environment (SNE) is an online environment established with these technologies in which various tools, people and resources are dynamically connected. This study aimed to investigate the roles of such an environment in supporting learning engagement in higher education, and to identify factors that affected how students engaged in learning activities in the SNE. Informed by the literature on knowledge construction, collaborative learning and intrinsic motivation, learning engagement was conceptualized as a multidimensional construct that incorporated cognitive, social and emotional components of the learning process.\n\n\n\nThis study was a single case study. It spanned a period of six months with a class of 55 undergraduate students enrolling in an elective university course in mainland China. A SNE, which integrated blogs, wikis, social bookmarks and tagging, file repositories, group spaces, and social networking facilities, was implemented to support designed learning activities that emphasized reflections and social interactions for achieving course objectives. Data collection and analysis combined qualitative and quantitative methods. Multiple-source data was obtained from interviews, observation, questionnaires and student learning artifacts, and was analyzed through content analysis, social network analysis and descriptive statistical analysis. \n\n\n\nThe analysis revealed a number of roles that the SNE could play in supporting learning engagement. In terms of social engagement, it could serve as a social medium for (a) facilitating self-presentation and self-expression, (b) supporting articulation and development of personal social networks, (c) encouraging various levels of participation in social interactions, and (d) enabling personalized feedback. In terms of cognitive engagement, it could afford a hybrid of individual and social learning by (a) supporting development of personal learning portfolios, (b) facilitating peer and teacher feedback, and (c) creating the transparency in a distributed learning environment which enabled students to access multiple perspectives, learn by observation, and utilize metacognitive skills for self-regulated learning. In terms of emotional engagement, it could be used as a vehicle for developing a socio-affective structure of the learning community by (a) inducing expression of emotions and feelings, (b) fostering socio-emotional interactions, and (c) contributing a sense of being connected to others. Factors in cultural, socio-contextual, technical, and individual dimensions were identified that affected learning engagement in the SNE and needed to be addressed in pedagogical interventions. \n\n\n\nThis study has both theoretical and practical implications. By proposing a construct incorporating cognitive, social and emotional elements of engaged learning, it deepens our understanding of the relationship between learning engagement and educational use of social networking technologies in higher education. For practicing teachers, a set of pedagogical principles is suggested based on the findings of the study for facilitating learning engagement in the SNE. Implications for software designers and educational administrators are also discussed.

Recent uprisings in the Arab world consist of individuals revealing vastly different preferences than were expressed prior to the uprisings. This paper sheds light on the general mechanisms underlying large-scale social and institutional change. We employ an agent-based model to test the impact of authority centralization and social network technology on preference revelation and falsification, social protest, and institutional change. We find that the amount of social and institutional change is decreasing with authority centralization in simulations with low network range but is increasing with authority centralization in simulations with greater network range. The relationship between institutional change and social shocks is not linear, but rather is characterized by sharp discontinuities. The threshold at which a shock can “tip” a system towards institutional change is decreasing with the geographic reach of citizen social networks. Farther reaching social networks reduce the robustness and resilience of central authorities to change. This helps explain why highly centralized regimes frequently attempt to restrict information flows via the media and Internet. More generally, our results highlight the role that information and communication technology can play in triggering cascades of preference revelation and revolutionary activity in varying institutional regimes.

Social networking technologies have commanded a lot of recent attention because they have changed the manner in which individuals have traditionally and historically accessed and shared knowledge. Although these technologies provide individuals with the opportunity to access and to utilize a plethora of knowledge created by others, the knowledge still needs to be organized, interpreted, and incorporated by the user in order for it to be useful. This research sought to better understand how social networking technologies can aid a firm's efforts to establish a knowledge management and a generative learning environment. The study closely followed one of the United States leading aerospace and defense firm's efforts to utilize new information and communication technologies to facilitate knowledge exchange and communications within the organization. This investigation provided a rich source of evidence for how social networking technologies can aid a firm's ability to encourage knowledge exchange, as well as networking and communication within the firm. We provide four key research-related findings and offer practitioners several key strategies, tactics, and pitfalls to avoid that they should consider when attempting to use SNT to aid in the establishment of a knowledge management and a generative learning environment.