IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/sae/sagope/v10y2020i4p2158244020974002.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Influential Factors and the Realization Mechanism of Sustainable Information-Sharing in Virtual Communities from a Knowledge Fermenting Perspective

Author

Listed:
  • Meng Zhang
  • Yang Gao
  • Minghe Sun
  • Datian Bi

Abstract

Little is known about sustainable information-sharing in virtual communities, although it is increasingly recognized as a useful information-sharing tool. The aim of this study is to explore the influential factors and the realization mechanism of sustainable information-sharing in virtual communities. Starting from the similarity between biological fermentation and the information-sharing process in virtual communities, the present study creatively introduces the knowledge fermenting theory used in the analysis. Six factors influencing sustainable information-sharing in virtual communities are first identified based on this theory, which include sharing bodies, interactive topics, communication mechanism, supporting technology, communication environment, and platform scale. The relations among these six factors are then analyzed using the Decision-Making and Trial Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) method. The results indicate that the factor of sharing bodies has the strongest influence on other factors and the factor of interactive topics receives the most influences from the other factors. On this basis, the realization mechanism of sustainable information-sharing in virtual communities is elaborated from the following four aspects: the four stages of the information-sharing realization, the guide role of “strain,†the catalytic role of “enzyme,†and the effect of environment. The results indicate that sustainable information-sharing in virtual communities is a process of spiral evolution. Finally, recommendations are given to virtual community managers, users, and business firms.

Suggested Citation

  • Meng Zhang & Yang Gao & Minghe Sun & Datian Bi, 2020. "Influential Factors and the Realization Mechanism of Sustainable Information-Sharing in Virtual Communities from a Knowledge Fermenting Perspective," SAGE Open, , vol. 10(4), pages 21582440209, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:sagope:v:10:y:2020:i:4:p:2158244020974002
    DOI: 10.1177/2158244020974002
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/2158244020974002
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1177/2158244020974002?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Hee-Woong Kim & Hock Chuan Chan & Atreyi Kankanhalli, 2012. "What Motivates People to Purchase Digital Items on Virtual Community Websites? The Desire for Online Self-Presentation," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 23(4), pages 1232-1245, December.
    2. Kozinets, Robert V., 1999. "E-tribalized marketing?: the strategic implications of virtual communities of consumption," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 17(3), pages 252-264, June.
    3. Wu, Chih-Wen, 2015. "Facebook users' intentions in risk communication and food-safety issues," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 68(11), pages 2242-2247.
    4. Seyed-Hosseini, S.M. & Safaei, N. & Asgharpour, M.J., 2006. "Reprioritization of failures in a system failure mode and effects analysis by decision making trial and evaluation laboratory technique," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 91(8), pages 872-881.
    5. Shin-Yuan Hung & Hui-Min Lai & Yu-Che Chou, 2015. "Knowledge-sharing intention in professional virtual communities: A comparison between posters and lurkers," Journal of the Association for Information Science & Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 66(12), pages 2494-2510, December.
    6. Jiemei Zhang & Qingbo Zhu & Yupei Wang, 2019. "Social Capital on Consumer Knowledge-Sharing in Virtual Brand Communities: The Mediating Effect of Pan-Family Consciousness," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-19, January.
    7. Femke Hilverda & Margôt Kuttschreuter, 2018. "Online Information Sharing About Risks: The Case of Organic Food," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 38(9), pages 1904-1920, September.
    8. Wei Liu & Yue Wang & Zhixin Wang, 2020. "An empirical study of continuous use behavior in virtual learning community," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(7), pages 1-17, July.
    9. Tsai, Yuan-Hui & Ma, Hwa-Chun & Lin, Chieh-Peng & Chiu, Chou-Kang & Chen, Shwu-Chuan, 2014. "Group social capital in virtual teaming contexts: A moderating role of positive affective tone in knowledge sharing," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 13-20.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Hyeon Gyu Jeon & Kun Chang Lee, 2020. "Emotional Factors Affecting Knowledge Sharing Intentions in the Context of Competitive Knowledge Network," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-23, February.
    2. Valentina Daniela N. CONSTANTIN & Roxana-Denisa G. STOENESCU, 2014. "The Impact Of Origin On Creating A Cult Brand: The Case Of Apple," SEA - Practical Application of Science, Romanian Foundation for Business Intelligence, Editorial Department, issue 3, pages 123-134, April.
    3. Qu, Hailin & Lee, Haeyoung, 2011. "Travelers’ social identification and membership behaviors in online travel community," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 32(6), pages 1262-1270.
    4. Certa, Antonella & Hopps, Fabrizio & Inghilleri, Roberta & La Fata, Concetta Manuela, 2017. "A Dempster-Shafer Theory-based approach to the Failure Mode, Effects and Criticality Analysis (FMECA) under epistemic uncertainty: application to the propulsion system of a fishing vessel," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 69-79.
    5. Sirirat Sae Lim & Hong Ngoc Nguyen & Chia-Li Lin, 2022. "Exploring the Development Strategies of Science Parks Using the Hybrid MCDM Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-29, April.
    6. Caitlin McLaughlin & Kai Haverila & Matti Haverila, 2022. "Gratifications sought versus gratifications achieved in online brand communities: satisfaction and motives of lurkers and posters," Journal of Brand Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 29(2), pages 190-207, March.
    7. Tribe, John & Mkono, Muchazondida, 2017. "Not such smart tourism? The concept of e-lienation," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 105-115.
    8. Lee, Kyungwon & Hakstian, Anne-Marie & Williams, Jerome D., 2021. "Creating a world where anyone can belong anywhere: Consumer equality in the sharing economy," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 221-231.
    9. Ying Zhu & Xiaowei Wen & May Chu & Gongliang Zhang & Xuefan Liu, 2021. "Consumers’ Food Safety Risk Communication on Social Media Following the Suan Tang Zi Accident: An Extended Protection Motivation Theory Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-19, July.
    10. Lee, Kwang-Ho & Hyun, Sunghyup Sean, 2015. "A model of behavioral intentions to follow online travel advice based on social and emotional loneliness scales in the context of online travel communities: The moderating role of emotional expressivi," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 426-438.
    11. Marco Bettiol & Mauro Capestro & Eleonora Maria & Stefano Micelli, 2021. "Reacting to the COVID-19 pandemic through digital connectivity with customers: the Italian experience," Italian Journal of Marketing, Springer, vol. 2021(4), pages 305-330, December.
    12. Yung-Chi Shen, 2017. "Identifying the key barriers and their interrelationships impeding the university technology transfer in Taiwan: a multi-stakeholder perspective," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 51(6), pages 2865-2884, November.
    13. Ying Hua & Shuang (Sara) Ma & Yonggui Wang & Qimeng Wan, 2017. "To reward or develop identification in online brand communities: evidence from emerging markets," Information Technology for Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(3), pages 579-596, July.
    14. Kayode Ajewole & Elliott Dennis & Ted C. Schroeder & Jason Bergtold, 2021. "Relative valuation of food and non‐food risks with a comparison to actuarial values: A best–worst approach," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 52(6), pages 927-943, November.
    15. Veloutsou, Cleopatra & Black, Iain, 2020. "Creating and managing participative brand communities: The roles members perform," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 873-885.
    16. Wieczerzycki Marcin, 2021. "Power asymmetry and value creation in B2C relationship networks," International Journal of Management and Economics, Warsaw School of Economics, Collegium of World Economy, vol. 57(2), pages 161-176, June.
    17. Bongo, Miriam F. & Ocampo, Lanndon A., 2017. "A hybrid fuzzy MCDM approach for mitigating airport congestion: A case in Ninoy Aquino International Airport," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 1-16.
    18. K. R. Aswin & V. R. Renjith & K. R. Akshay, 2022. "FMECA using fuzzy logic and grey theory: a comparitve case study applied to ammonia storage facility," International Journal of System Assurance Engineering and Management, Springer;The Society for Reliability, Engineering Quality and Operations Management (SREQOM),India, and Division of Operation and Maintenance, Lulea University of Technology, Sweden, vol. 13(4), pages 2084-2103, August.
    19. Orelj, Ana & Torfason, Magnus Thor, 2022. "They didn't ask: Online innovation communities as a latent dynamic capability," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 180(C).
    20. Rosenthal, Benjamin & Brito, Eliane P.Z., 2017. "How virtual brand community traces may increase fan engagement in brand pages," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 60(3), pages 375-384.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:sae:sagope:v:10:y:2020:i:4:p:2158244020974002. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: SAGE Publications (email available below). General contact details of provider: .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.