National Culture and its Effects on Knowledge Communication in Online Virtual Communities

Co-authored by Keng Siau, Fiona Fui-Hoon Nah, and Min Ling

Online virtual communities provide a powerful means of knowledge sharing. Despite the prevalence of online virtual communities, there is a paucity of research to investigate the effect of national culture differences on knowledge sharing in online virtual communities. Are there differences between online virtual communities from different national cultures? This research studies the differences in knowledge-sharing activities between US-based and China-based online virtual communities. Hofstede’s dimensions of national culture serve as the theoretical foundation for this research.

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	Nah, Fiona Fui-Hoon Professor of Management in Information Systems Expertise: Information Systems Human-Computer Interaction Electronic, Mobile, and Ubiquitous Commerce Web 2.0, Virtual World, and 3-D Web Management CBA 267 P.O. Box 880491 University of Nebraska-Lincoln Lincoln, NE 68588-0491, USA Phone: (402) 472-6060 Fax: (402) 472-5855 fnah@unlnotes.unl.edu	Nah, Fiona Fui-Hoon	Management
	Siau, Keng L Edwin J. Faulkner Professor Expertise: Systems Analysis and Design Design Science Web 2.0, Virtual World, and 3-D Web Supply Chain Integration and Management Electronic, Mobile, and Ubiquitous Commerce Management CBA 255 P.O. Box 880491 University of Nebraska-Lincoln Lincoln, NE 68588-0491, USA Phone: (402) 472-3078 Fax: (402) 472-5855 ksiau@unl.edu	Siau, Keng L	Management