A factor-identifying study of the user-perceived value of collective intelligence based on online social networks

An important issue for researchers and managers of organizations is the understanding of user-perceived values of collective intelligence (UPVoCI) in online social networks (OSNs) with the purpose of helping organizations identify the values that cause internet users and members of OSNs to share information and knowledge during they participate in collective intelligence (co-intelligence) activities. However, the development of measurement instruments and predictive models and rules for predicting UPVoCI are inadequate. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

A novel measurement scale was developed to measure UPVoCI using a user-oriented research strategy that is based on qualitative and quantitative research methods. This work also identified critical indicators and constructed predictive models and rules for forecasting UPVoCI by multivariate statistical methods and data mining.

A 17-item scale of UPVoCI was developed and 17 measurement items were associated with two major dimensions, which are the user-perceived social value of co-intelligence and the user-perceived problem-solving value of co-intelligence. Ten critical indicators of UPVoCI that are important in predicting UPVoCI and 12 rules for predicting UPVoCI were identified and a refined model for predicting UPVoCI was constructed.

The results in this work allow organizations to determine the perceived value of members of OSNs and the benefits of their participating in co-intelligence activities, as a basis for adjusting user-oriented online co-intelligence and service strategies with the goal of improving collaborative innovation performance.

This work systematically developed a novel scale for measuring UPVoCI in OSNs and constructed new models and rules for predicting UPVoCI in OSNs.