Using and Managing Communication Networks (Second Spring Institute)

Produsage

Axel Bruns concept of “produsage”. Key concepts.

1. Open Participation, Communal Evaluation

2. Fluid Heterarchy, Ad Hoc Meritocracy

3. Unfinished Artefacts, Continuing Process

4. Common Property, Individual Rewards

Social Capital

Social capital, which is the “capital captured through social relations” (Lin, 19) plays an integral role for communities of practice to achieve its knowledge management goals. This social capital is developed by building and maintaining social ties to those within the group and those outside of the group. The amount of social capital an individual has can greatly benefit the community of practice they are in. According to Nan Lin, “capital is seen as a social asset by virtue of actors’ connections and access to resources in the network or group of which they are members” (Lin, 19). Members of the COP each have relationships with one another that they can transfer knowledge between. They also have contacts that are outside of the community that can be vital for the knowledge development amongst the group.

Lin, N. (2002). Social capital: A theory of social structure and action. New York: Cambridge University Press.