Web 2.0 and the shift in corporate governance from control to democracy

This paper discusses the adoption of web 2.0 technologies to enhance knowledge flows within and across companies. Its original contribution is to explore how corporate governance models influence the use of web 2.0 tools for knowledge sharing. The knowledge management literature is revisited to understand how social mechanisms determine the use of technologies in corporate environments. This review is followed by a synthetic view on web 2.0 technologies and their use in business. The paper concludes that the potential of web 2.0 technologies to foster collaboration depends on corporate governance structures that companies establish for decision making. The empowerment of employees is a necessary precondition for successfully implementing web 2.0-based information systems. Recommendations are given to change governance structures and to create liberal work cultures that foster the use of web 2.0 for knowledge sharing.