Knowledge Management using Social Media: A Comparative Study between Blogs and Facebook

Abstract

Blogging and Facebook have gained increasing recognition as tools to support online information sharing and management. This study examined if, and in which aspects, blogs and Facebook scaffold and/or consolidate student users' knowledge capture, sharing and application during their internship. A mixed-methods design was employed to investigate users' practices and perceptions of blogs and Facebook in online information management. The study found that users generally hold positive perception on using blogs and Facebook for online knowledge management. In particular, Facebook appears to be a more facilitating platform for users to reflect upon prior knowledge, capture new experiences and provide feedback that is constructive to cultivating knowledge sharing environment. It was found that Facebook support the expression of social support among users, thereby reinforcing their motivation in participating in knowledge management processes.