1. ¹WHL University of Business and Economics, Lahr, Germany
2. ²Catholic University of Eichstaett-Ingolstadt, Ingolstadt, Germany
3. ³Technical University of Berlin, Sociology of Organizations, Berlin, Germany

Correspondence: Stephan Kaiser, Kath. Universität Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, Auf der Schanz 49, Ingolstadt 85049, Germany. Tel: +49 841 937 1936

Received 7 July 2008; Accepted 20 October 2008.

Abstract

The use of weblogs as an information and communication technology for knowledge sharing and creation is a novel social and organizational phenomenon. In this paper, we identify and explain contingency factors that influence the successful use of weblogs for knowledge sharing and creation. We start from the assumption that successful knowledge management requires the motivation of people to engage in knowledge-related communication. Based on a comparison of two antithetic cases, we identify and discuss four contingency factors that directly influence the motivational impact of weblogs on organizational knowledge sharing and creation.