Consequences of Enterprise Social Media Network Positions for Employees

Authors

Sebastian Schötteler, Nuremberg Institute of TechnologyFollow
Sven Laumer, Insitute of Information SystemsFollow
Heidi Schuhbauer, Nuremberg Institute of TechnologyFollow

Document Type

Research Paper

Abstract

Employees often use enterprise social media (ESM) for communication, collaboration, and knowledge sharing, leading to ESM networks–that is, social networks of interrelated employees based on ESM. Many organizations possess ESM networks, and there is increasing research on their consequences for employees depending on how these employees are positioned in such networks. ESM network research is complex and consists of various interrelated dimensions. However, a synthesis of the abovementioned studies is lacking. Therefore, the current body of knowledge may obfuscate how the different dimensions interrelate, impeding a more holistic understanding of the consequences that employees may experience depending on their network positions. Moreover, there is little understanding of which research topics in this area have been addressed to date and where further research is needed. This paper addresses these gaps by means of a literature review and research agenda that synthesizes past studies. The results emphasize that whether ESM are beneficial for and exert a positive influence on employees largely depends on the employees’ positions in the underlying networks.

Recommended Citation

Schötteler, Sebastian; Laumer, Sven; and Schuhbauer, Heidi (2023) "Consequences of Enterprise Social Media Network Positions for Employees," Business & Information Systems Engineering: Vol. 65: Iss. 4, 425-440.
Available at: https://aisel.aisnet.org/bise/vol65/iss4/5