This study investigates the potentially different roles of informal social networks in promoting knowledge sharing. Specifically, it aims to examine the effects of the focal subgroup’s between-subgroup network size and strength on knowledge sharing with other subgroups and the moderating effect of within-subgroup network strength on the relationship of between-subgroup network size to knowledge sharing. Two different online surveys were conducted to assess social networks and knowledge sharing at a paint manufacturing company located in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. The final sample consisted of 536 employees in 58 teams. The team-level regression results showed that the focal subgroup’s between-subgroup network strength has a significant effect on knowledge sharing with other subgroups, indicating that strong ties among subgroups are more advantageous to external knowledge sharing than weak ties. The results also demonstrated that the focal subgroup’s within-subgroup network strength negatively moderates the effect of its between-subgroup network size on knowledge sharing, indicating that higher levels of between-subgroup network size are positively related to external knowledge sharing when within-subgroup network strength is weak and negatively when within-subgroup network strength is strong. The study’s findings suggest that strong ties among subgroups and weak ties among subgroup members are advantageous to external knowledge sharing.

中文翻译：

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非正式的网络结构和组织中的知识共享：一家韩国涂料制造公司的实证研究

这项研究调查了非正式社交网络在促进知识共享方面的潜在不同作用。具体而言，它旨在检验焦点小组的小组间网络规模和强度对与其他小组的知识共享的影响，以及小组内部网络强度对小组间网络规模与知识共享之间关系的调节作用。位于韩国京畿道的一家涂料制造公司进行了两次不同的在线调查，以评估社交网络和知识共享。最终样本包括58个团队的536名员工。团队水平的回归结果表明，焦点小组的小组间网络强度对与其他小组的知识共享具有显着影响，表明亚组之间的牢固联系比弱联系更有利于外部知识共享。结果还表明，焦点小组的小组内网络强度消弱了小组间网络规模对知识共享的影响，表明小组间网络内较高水平的小组间网络规模与外部知识共享成正相关强度较弱，而当子组内网络强度较强时，强度则为负值。研究结果表明，亚组之间的牢固关系和亚组成员之间的弱关系有利于外部知识共享。结果还表明，焦点小组的小组内网络强度消弱了小组间网络规模对知识共享的影响，表明小组间网络内较高水平的小组间网络规模与外部知识共享成正相关强度较弱，而当子组内网络强度较强时，强度则为负值。研究结果表明，亚组之间的牢固关系和亚组成员之间的弱关系有利于外部知识共享。结果还表明，焦点小组的小组内网络强度消弱了小组间网络规模对知识共享的影响，表明小组间网络内较高水平的小组间网络规模与外部知识共享成正相关强度较弱，而当子组内网络强度较强时，强度则为负值。研究结果表明，亚组之间的牢固关系和亚组成员之间的弱关系有利于外部知识共享。