Knowledge sharing and professional online communities acceptance: An integrated model

Abstract

This study extends the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) to study acceptance and use of professional online communities. Drawing upon rigorous theoretical foundation, empirical support and contextually relevant research, an integrated model was developed and applied to investigate the use of professional online communities for knowledge acquisition and for knowledge provision. This model was tested through a survey administrated to the members of eight professional unions in Egypt. The findings of this study adds to knowledge by demonstrating that content quality, system quality and members’ beliefs in their abilities to use the community system facilitate the transformation of professional online communities’ resources to performance and personal benefits and, consequently, encourage members to use the community for sharing their knowledge. Additionally, the findings revealed that members who perceived high content and system quality were more likely to show higher degree of relational capital (trust). Several important implications are presented and discussed in more detail.