Title: Online knowledge communities: future trends and research issues

Authors: Sjoerd de Vries, Piet Kommers

Addresses: Faculty of Behavioural Sciences, University of Twente, PO Box 217, NL-7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands. ' Faculty of Behavioural Sciences, University of Twente, PO Box 217, NL-7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands

Abstract: Online Knowledge Communities (OKCs) are seen here as meeting places for continuing professional development, a social network of members, who are organised by making use of an online meeting place, having an adequate group culture and are involved in appropriate information processes to develop and exploit a certain knowledge domain. We expect the use of online knowledge communities for continuing professional development to have positive effects on the professionalism of the professionals and the development of knowledge assets in knowledge-intensive organisations. We discuss future trends in the development and application of OKCs and related research issues.

Keywords: online knowledge communities; professional development; social networks; electronic networked information; web-based communities.

DOI: 10.1504/IJWBC.2004.004804

International Journal of Web Based Communities, 2004 Vol.1 No.1, pp.115 - 123

Published online: 07 Jul 2004 *

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