Social Networking Platforms as Creativity Social Networking Platforms as Creativity Fostering Systems: Research Model and Fostering Systems: Research Model and Exploratory Study Exploratory Study Mario Schaarschmidt Mario Schaarschmidt Harald F.O. von Kortzfleisch Harald F.O. von Kortzfleisch Nr. 9/2008 Nr. 9/2008 Arbeitsberichte aus dem Arbeitsberichte aus dem Fachbereich Informatik Fachbereich Informatik

Die Arbeitsberichte aus dem Fachbereich Informatik dienen der Darstellung vorl��ufiger Ergebnisse, die in der Regel noch f��r sp��tere Ver��ffentlichungen ��berarbeitet werden. Die Autoren sind deshalb f��r kritische Hinweise dankbar. Alle Rechte vorbehalten, insbesondere die der ��bersetzung, des Nachdruckes, des Vortrags, der Entnahme von Abbildungen und Tabellen ��� auch bei nur auszugsweiser Verwertung. The ���Arbeitsberichte aus dem Fachbereich Informatik��� comprise preliminary results which will usually be revised for subsequent publication. Critical comments are appreciated by the authors. All rights reserved. No part of this report may be reproduced by any means or translated. Arbeitsberichte des Fachbereichs Informatik ISSN (Print): 1864-0346 ISSN (Online): 1864-0850 Herausgeber / Edited by: Der Dekan: Prof. Dr. Z��bel Die Professoren des Fachbereichs: Prof. Dr. B��tori, Prof. Dr. Beckert, Prof. Dr. Burkhardt, Prof. Dr. Diller, Prof. Dr. Ebert, Prof. Dr. Furbach, Prof. Dr. Grimm, Prof. Dr. Hampe, Prof. Dr. Harbusch, Jun.-Prof. Dr. Hass, Prof. Dr. Krause, Prof. Dr. L��mmel, Prof. Dr. Lautenbach, Prof. Dr. M��ller, Prof. Dr. Oppermann, Prof. Dr. Paulus, Prof. Dr. Priese, Prof. Dr. Rosendahl, Prof. Dr. Schubert, Prof. Dr. Staab, Prof. Dr. Steigner, Prof. Dr. Troitzsch, Prof. Dr. von Kortzfleisch, Prof. Dr. Walsh, Prof. Dr. Wimmer, Prof. Dr. Z��bel Kontaktdaten der Verfasser Mario Schaarschmidt, Harald von Kortzfleisch Institut f��r Informationsmanagement Fachbereich Informatik Universit��t Koblenz-Landau Universit��tsstra��e 1 D-56070 Koblenz EMail: mario.schaarschmidt@uni-koblenz.de kortzfle@wiso-5.wiso.uni-koeln.de

Social Networking Platforms as Creativity Fostering Systems: Research Model and Exploratory Study Mario Schaarschmidt University of Koblenz-Landau, Germany Harald von Kortzfleisch University of Koblenz-Landau, Germany Abstract Social networking platforms are enabling users to create their own content, share this content with anyone they invite and organize connections with existing or new online contacts. Within these electronic environments users voluntarily add comments on virtual boards, distribute their search results or add information about their expertise areas to their social networking profiles and thereby share it with acquaintances, friends and increasingly even with colleagues in the corporate world. As a result, it is most likely that the underlying knowledge sharing processes result in many new and creative ideas. The objective of our research therefore is to understand if and how social social networking platforms can enforce creativity. In addition, we look at how these processes could be embedded within the organizational structures that influence innovative knowledge sharing behavior. The basis for our research is a framework which focuses on the relations between intrinsic motivation, creativity and social networking platforms. First results of our empirical investigation of a social software platform called ���StudiVZ.net��� proved that our two propositions are valid. Introduction Social networking platforms are often mentioned together with the Web 2.0 phenomenon. Web 2.0 suggests a technological leap by placing a version number and misleads insofar as it is in fact used to characterize a mixture of new internet technologies and changed usage behavior (Christopher 2007). In fact, it is questionable if a discrete version number is the right way to describe an ongoing process. However, whether you like the term or not, Web 2.0 is an accepted aggregation of several changes of how people use the Internet. In contrast to Web 1.0, which was all about defining and creating destinations for web users, Web 2.0 is about people and content (O���Reilly 2005). Users can simply generate content and Social Networking Platforms as Creativity Fostering Systems: Research Model and Exploratory Study, Fachbereich Informatik, Nr. 9/2008 3