Meta-analytical structural modelling of virtual communities: the case of professional and non-professional users

Abstract

Currently, the factors that motivate knowledge-sharing process in a virtual community (VC) remain unclear. VCs exist in two different but similar scenarios. The first scenario involves professional virtual communities (PVCs) formed by professionals in similar areas looking to solve common problems. PVCs within a company often work to address similar problems in multiple plants and countries. The second scenario involves non-professional virtual communities (NPVCs). This study discusses some factors that affect knowledge sharing in virtual communities and compares the effects and behaviours between PVCs and NPVCs. We investigate these issues by quantitatively reviewing the available literature using meta-analytical structural equation modelling (MASEM) for both PVCs and NPVCs to evaluate the moderating effects of conventional professional knowledge-sharing methods. Although trust was established as a crucial element in both models, the factors associated with each model differed substantially. The absolute values of the correspondence of trust with self-efficacy and with knowledge sharing were lower for PVCs than for NPVCs. This research revealed the singularities of these different information systems applied to businesses.