While the main processes of knowledge management is a challenge in the organizations, it must be some technical tools to help organization to enhance their service and create competitive advantage. In the following papers, I will explore some tools and social Medias that influence the Knowledge Management in the organizations.

1. ANAG THE DIGITAL FIRM
June 28, 2014
Prepared By:
Monzer ALchaikh Warak
Under supervision of Dr. Mamata Bhandar
The Roles of Social Networks In Knowledge
Management
ACTION LEARNING PROJECT
Knowledge Management

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Contents
INTRODUCTION ..............................................................................2
WHY SOCIAL MEDIA? ........................................................................2
FACTS OF INTERNET USAGE AND SOME SOCIAL MEDIA NETWORKS ..................3
SOCIAL NETWORKS SWOT ................................................................4
THE NEW GENERATION OF KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT TOOLS......................4
EXAMPLE OF USING THE SOCIAL NETWORKS: ...........................................6
CONCLUSION .................................................................................6
REFERENCES ..................................................................................7

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Introduction
While the main processes of knowledge management is a challenge in the
organizations, it must be some technical tools to help organization to enhance their
service and create competitive advantage.
In the following papers, I will explore some tools and social Medias that influence
the Knowledge Management in the organizations.
Why social media?
People are socializing across channels with their phones, TVs, web browsers,
tablets, cameras, watches, toys, by using many social media applications such as
Facebook, twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Foursquare, Google+, etc.
Companies can improve and enhance the firm's Innovative Performance due to
absorption of external knowledge. This external
knowledge could be brought through Social media.
Social media are not only transforming private
communication & interaction; they also will
transform how people work. With social media
knowledge, work in organizations can be optimized
extremely: like a better distribution/sharing and
access to knowledge. This will be more and more
important, as in today's business world, speed and
complexity increase dramatically, while work
environments change constantly.
Social media is an effective way for businesses to connect with customers and build
a brand for the cost of some time and creativity.
Today a strong social media campaign considered as integral to the success of a
business - if it is done correctly.

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Facts of internet usage and some Social Media Networks
comScore (2011) reported an incredible figure of 1.36 Billion internet users
worldwide during April 2011, with an increasing trend towards Social networking.
In Europe, a total of 84% internet users use social networking and trend is high in
both youngsters and old users.
Redecker et al (2011) finds that social networking will provide an easy source of
learning for junior and less experienced employees. They would easily interact with
senior and more knowledgeable colleagues and would get benefit. Furthermore,
social media will harness an environment of mutual cooperation and knowledge
sharing, where knowledgeable workers will be given due recognition for their
experience and knowledge.
The figure below show analytics on the some social networks users and their
behaviors

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Social Networks SWOT
Due to this huge users trend in social network, there are still some weakness and
threats of use it.
The SWOT analysis below, describe the strengths, weakness, threats, and
opportunities of using Social media in Knowledge Management
The new generation of Knowledge management tools
In the past, the knowledge management systems was installing within boundaries of
the company, maybe even in one physical location. At the beginning of Internet
revolution, the companies started to create their knowledge system over the internet
and distribute the knowledge to all their employees and customers.
Within last 10 years, the knowledge was distributed and still distributing through the
social networks and other Web2 technologies.
In addition, there are another concept that used specifically in Knowledge
management called: Social knowledge management!

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Social knowledge management one of the application areas of social media in a
business context next to others like sentiment analysis, social learning or social
collaboration.
Social knowledge management can be defined as
applying social media in the knowledge management
context to identify, share, document, transfer, develop,
use or evaluate knowledge.
Another Definition of social Knowledge Management is
the management of social knowledge - where the aim is
then more economic development - not only individual
competitive advantage by companies (based on authors
like Lazlo & Lazlo).
Benefits are higher user-productivity & performance,
when e.g. users can solve problems better & faster.
Through crowdsourcing of user generated content
organizations can better leverage the collective and hidden knowledge of the
organizations stakeholders - and increase organizational learning. On the other hand
the Millennial/ Generation uses social media as their natural communication &
working tools the tools - so to attract & retain talented young employees it is also
important to use social media. In regards to knowledge management, social media
put the focus on the individual, empowering the user e.g. to search, create & share
user generated content easily and thus creates a new momentum for Knowledge
Management.
Both management and participants gain benefits from social networks, it is as
below:
Participants Management
Help with their work Connect isolated experts
Solve problems Coordinate activities
Find experts Fast problem solving
Receive feedback Reduce development time
Place to learn Quickly answer questions
Get Latest information Standardize processes

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Example of using the Social Networks:
- Employers can use LinkedIn to find the suitable employees with specific
experience.
- Employees in turn can also search for job, consultants, company, with specific
keywords or expertise.
- The using of LinkedIn groups will help everybody to share their knowledge
and ideas and find the answering of their questions.
- Governments as well use the social media to collect information about
suspected persons by monitoring their
activities on Facebook and twitter.
Collecting information about suspected
persons became very easy and cheap.
The department of investigation usually
monitor what those suspected persons
share, what pages they likes, what the kind
of subjects they post, who is their friends
and how the behave with others.
So many criminals discovered by watching
their activities over the social networks.
- Peoples can record their tutorial videos and
uploaded on YouTube,
- Bloggers as well post their ideas and summaries their experience on their blog
as an articles, the readers has ability to comment, share or review the content.
From my experience as a blogger, every article I posted in my blog I learn a new
things! When I see the comments or reviews from someone who has a long
experience or coming from different background and start a negotiate about that
article, every one – including myself- will get more knowledge and everybody win.
Conclusion
Enterprise Social Networks, like all IT tools, are only mechanisms or means that
enable companies to achieve their goals. With this, I mean that before implementing
an Enterprise Social Network to share and distribute knowledge, companies need to
reconsider their Knowledge Management strategy on which this tool will be based.

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References
1- “The importance of Enterprise Social Networks in Knowledge Management”, By: Doroteo Quiroz, February 28, 2013
2- Wikipedia,"Social knowledge management", URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_knowledge_management,
accessed in 01/07/2014
3- “Evolving knowledge for development: The role of knowledge management in a changing world. Journal of Knowledge
Management”, By: Laszlo, K. C., & Laszlo, A. (2002).
4- “Knowledge management in the age of social media", By: Jonathan Reichental, March 16, 2011, O'Reilly Media, Inc
5- “Deriving Organizational Value from Social Networks: Transforming what people know into action”, By: Albert Simard,
Nov. 24-25, 2010, Defense research and development Canada