The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on knowledge sharing in UK higher education
VINE Journal of Information and Knowledge Management Systems
ISSN: 2059-5891
Article publication date: 7 January 2022
Issue publication date: 2 January 2024
Abstract
Purpose
The paper aims to explore “content” factors influencing consumptive and contributive use of enterprise social networking within UK higher education during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Design/methodology/approach
The methodology uses genre analysis and grounded theory to analyse empirical data from posts obtained through Microsoft Yammer and a focus group.
Findings
The findings reveal the motivators-outcomes-strategies and the barriers-outcomes-strategies of users. Motivators (M) include feature value, Information value, organizational requirement and adequate organizational and technical support. Barriers (B) include six factors, including resisting engagement on the online platform, emotional anxiety, loss of knowledge, the lack of organizational pressure, lack of content quality and lack of time. An Outcomes (O) framework reveals benefits and dis-benefits and strategies (S) relating to improving user engagement.
Practical implications
The research method and resultant model may serve as guidelines to higher educational establishments interested in motivating their staff and scholars around the use of enterprise social network (ESN) systems, especially during face-to-face restrictions.
Originality/value
This research study was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic which provides a unique setting to examine consumptive and contributive user behaviour of ESN’s. Furthermore, the study develops a greater understanding of “content” factors leading to the benefits or dis-benefits of ESN use, drawing on user motivators, barriers and strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic in UK education.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Funding: The author(s) received no financial support for the research, authorship and/or publication of this article.
Citation
Kazemian, S. and Grant, S.B. (2024), "The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on knowledge sharing in UK higher education", VINE Journal of Information and Knowledge Management Systems, Vol. 54 No. 1, pp. 74-107. https://doi.org/10.1108/VJIKMS-06-2021-0096
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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