Mutual choices of knowledge sharing in social networks

Utilizing secondary data, this paper analyzes the mutual-choice social networks for single-loop and double-loop knowledge benefits. Two interesting results are presented. First, we observe that mutual-choice social networks show obvious cluster phenomenon, which are different from one-sided relations shown in original graphs. Mutual-choice relationships require bilateral content of two involved agents; therefore similarity (e.g. the period in the firm) between members partly increases the likelihood of forming the links within the groups. A second finding presents that the amount of mutual-choice networks reduces sharply when knowledge benefits develop from single-loop to double-loop level. High requirements of maintaining relationships for double-loop benefits may limit the quantity, but improve the quality of links. The research contributes to theory on knowledge management and social network analysis by investigating symmetric dyadic relationships of knowledge sharing.