The Effects of Social and Technical Factors on User Satisfaction, Sense of Belonging and Knowledge Community Usage

  • Authors:

  • Hui Lin;Weiguo Fan;Linda Wallace

  • Affiliations:

  • School of Accountancy & MIS, DePaul University, Chicago, IL, USA;Department of Accounting and Information Systems, Virginia Tech University, Blacksburg, VA, USA;Department of Accounting and Information Systems, Virginia Tech University, Blacksburg, VA, USA

  • Venue:
  • International Journal of e-Collaboration
  • Year:
  • 2013

Quantified Score

Hi-index 0.00

Visualization

Abstract

Knowledge communities allow individuals to share knowledge and collaborate with each other based on common interests. The authors apply socio-technical theory as the overarching theoretical framework to propose a research model which posits that both technical factors system quality and information quality and social factors community governance and pro-sharing norms collectively influence user satisfaction, sense of belonging, and knowledge community usage. Survey data collected from members of a computer programming knowledge community show that community governance is an important social factor which affects users' perceptions of information quality, system quality, and pro-sharing norms. These factors in turn provide a nurturing atmosphere which results in increased user satisfaction, sense of belonging, and community usage. The implications for research and practice are discussed.