Using “Yams” for enterprise knowledge sharing among knowledge workers from the perspective of a task categorisation-knowledge sharing systems fit

Abstract

Emerging digital technologies play a key role in the development of enterprises. Their uses demand a transition on the part of knowledge workers, however. Web 2.0 is an emerging communication technology that supports collaborative knowledge sharing in corporate learning paradigms, changing tailor-made, expensive and high learning curve digital systems to simple but well-accepted ones [1, 2]. These platforms revolutionise how participants share, communicate and create knowledge in a corporate setting [3]. The use of Web 2.0 to support Knowledge Sharing (KS) has been extensively investigated [4, 5]. Studies that use a task-technology fit model on systems such as decision support [6] and eLearning [7] demonstrate that a good fit between tasks and digital technologies is able to improve performance of knowledge workers. This research reports the outcomes on the fit between task categorization and knowledge sharing systems. The task categories and Web 2.0 functions used in knowledge sharing practices were consistent. The outcomes highlighted that intuitive design, ease of use and a low learning curve were able to elicit both tacit and explicit organizational knowledge. Text analysis demonstrated that new knowledge was created, exchanged and shared. The study concluded that knowledge sharing activity and the fit between Web 2.0 functions and task categories were consistent and significant.