A Social Exchange Architecture for Distributed Web Communities

Abstract

Using the foundational lens of social exchange theory and communities of practice, proposes a three-layer Web-based architecture to facilitate knowledge integration in digital communities. Reviews the limitations of past collaborative filtering mechanisms and presents a prototype and the underlying mathematical model for the knowledge networking on the Web (KNOWeb) architecture. Further illustrates how real-time active feedback and valuation mechanisms reinforce social exchange in such communities.

Keywords: community relations, Internet, knowledge management, social exchange, knowledge networks