Bringing the Citizen back in: Motivational Aspects of Knowledge Sharing Through Web 2.0 Technologies in Public Administration

Abstract

In an effort to cope with an increasingly complex environment, characterized by heterogeneous, diffuse or unknown public preferences, public administrations have begun using Web 2.0 internet technology to allow for direct citizen engagement in the generation of new knowledge. The success of such collaborative Web 2.0 websites depends largely on the citizens voluntarily sharing their knowledge. However, uncertainty about the outcome of the collaborative project might hinder citizens’ motivation to share their knowledge. In this conceptual paper we explore antecedents for citizens’ motivation to share their knowledge via collaborative Web 2.0 technologies. We provide a substantial review of literature on voluntary knowledge sharing in organizations which we transfer to the context of citizen-administration collaboration through Web 2.0 technologies. Based on that we formulate propositions on how to foster citizens’ motivation for knowledge sharing and give advice for further research.