Article Preview
Top1. Introduction
Wikipedia contains vast amounts of user-generated content and comprehensive knowledge management structures (Parameswaran & Whinston, 2007). The platform aims to promote knowledge management through continuous user contribution (Koh et al. 2007; Farzan & Brusilovsky 2011; Butler 2001). User participation is voluntary. Researchers agree that participatory media or Wikipedia can build communities of knowledge as an intermediary to generate positive interactions between users and participatory media (Larson & Watson, 2011). In this process, the contents and the format of communication are critical (Barwise & Meehan, 2010; Wang, Jiao, Abrahams, Fan, & Zhang, 2013), for example, content co-creation and content involvement (Clark & Melancon, 2013; Goh, Heng, & Lin, 2013) or media environment (distinction of content, value delivery and opportunity development) and platform requirements (Larson & Watson, 2011; Khajeheian, Esmaeilkhoo, & Yousefikhah, 2012). Salamzadeh considered the co-working space and the short creation period for shortening of the learning curve by start-up accelerators (Salamzadeh & Markovic, 2018).
Regretfully, previous studies on knowledge management largely focused on evaluating management efficacy or validating user experiences (Parboteeah, Valacich, & Wells, 2009). To the authors’ knowledge, no case studies have evaluated user cognition and behavior based on their participation motivations, and none have independently validated or discussed the knowledge management systems of educational institutions (Jiang, Chan, Tan, & Chua, 2010). Therefore, this study selected the Tamshui Humanities Knowledge Collaboration System (hereafter referred to as the “Tamshui Wiki”) as the research sample and users’ motivations for participating in knowledge management as the research variables in order to analyze users’ pre-participation intrinsic cognition and behavioral responses. The findings of this study serve as a reference for improvement efforts of participatory media management. Several suggestions are also made concerning community and team recognition and contribution.
The Tamshui Wiki was established on 13th September 2013 to consolidate information on Tamshui, including local features, history, culture, customs, lifestyle, travel and tourism, and attractions. The system comprises four major segments, namely history, events, names, and records. The system was co-created by university students and local scholars. The purpose of the system is to motivate students in voluntarily participating in cultural and historical knowledge creation and to share and impart local knowledge. In this study, a questionnaire survey and statistical analysis were used for comprehensive validation and analysis of results. This was employed to investigate the relationships between the motivations, cognitions, and behaviors of Tamshui Wiki users. The study endeavored to determine users’ motivations for participating in knowledge management prior to content creation and the possible effects of intrinsic cognition and overt behaviors on users’ motivations. Findings indicated that students developed a high regard for knowledge and organization on the platform prior to participation, validating the feasibility of using Tamshui Wiki as a means to motivate students in participating in knowledge management.