Case Study: Siemens ShareNet: Building a Knowledge Network

Subscribers, contributions - they tend to spike up during promo periods, and drop sharply after. An alternative method of encouraging use of ShareNet must be developed; as of 2002, 2.5 million shares have been awarded to users and at 1 Euro per share that translates into 2.5 million Euros. Although users have shown incredible restraint by not claiming their rewards, realistically if they were to claim the rewards then that contributes to the operating cost of ShareNet. One way of addressing this problem is to restructure the rewards system; instead of 1 share being equal to 1 Euro, the number of shares can be increased to 10 before it can considered as the same value of 1 Euro. A way to increase use of the network is to make contributions mandatory for certain people; employees with recognized skills can be made to regularly log into the network and answer questions or post their own newly acquired or developed information. Another way of generating network traffic is to recognize the contributions of users; organize a year end awards ceremony, issue plaques or recognition certificates to users whose contributions have helped the most number of people or have been the most effective.…