Use of Information and Communication Technologies for Knowledge Sharing by Polish and UK-Based Prosumers

Abstract

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) can enhance the knowledge sharing by lowering temporal and spatial barriers between prosumers and enterprises, and improving access to prosumers’ knowledge for enterprises. A major challenge for enterprises involves investing in the appropriate ICTs that help facilitate prosumers’ knowledge engagement and knowledge transfer. The purpose of the paper is to indicate which ICTs are currently used and expected to be used to enable knowledge sharing by Polish and UK-based prosumers. The reported outcomes are the result of a questionnaire survey that yielded responses from 783 Polish and 171 UK-based prosumers. The results indicate the primary ICTs choices for use and expected use by Poland and UK-based prosumers and reveals important differences between these countries. The mobile applications being favored amongst the UK respondents whereas the dedicated enterprise website is the favored ICT amongst Polish respondents. The results explore the choice and variety of ICTs available for prosumers that may be overlooked by enterprises as trends change. The variety of ICTs provided by enterprises may be too limiting to promote the type of knowledge sharing and communications expected to reassure the prosumers, and the ICT trends and customer culture have an affect the choice of ICT uptake for knowledge sharing with enterprises.