The impact of enterprise social media use on employee performance: a grounded theory approach

Abstract

PurposeEnterprise social media (ESM) are frequently used in enterprises for daily operation. Although many researchers have attempted to understand the antecedents and consequences of ESM use, the integrated model, boundary conditions and mechanism of the impact of ESM use on performance are still unclear. This study fill this research gap by adopting a grounded theory approach to study how ESM use affects employee performance.Design/methodology/approachChoosing representative cases, the authors collected interview data and analyzed the data using open coding, axial coding and selective coding.FindingsThe results showed four main categories including ESM use, work efficiency, emotional maintenance and work performance, as well as 14 sub-categories. This paper also constructs a model of the impact of ESM use on work performance. In addition, results showed that ESM use affects employees' work performance through work efficiency and emotional maintenance, and frequency of use and individual characteristics may moderate this process.Originality/valueThis study’s results contribute to the existing ESM literature by finding the integrated model, boundary conditions and mechanism of the impact of ESM use on performance. The authors also contributed to the social media literature by finding 14 sub-categories and four main categories including ESM use, work efficiency, emotional maintenance and work performance. The conclusion of this paper provides guidance and reference for the use and management of internal social media in enterprises.

The Impact of Social Media on Employee Mental Health and Behavior Based on the Context of Intelligence-Driven Digital Data

“…From an analysis of the relevant literature for the last three years of 2020–2022, it is easy to find that the latest research reveals the corresponding mechanisms of action, namely through mediating and moderating variables. Ma et al [ 106 ] found that the behavior can positively affect work productivity and emotional maintenance, thus influencing employee performance, and that frequency of use and personal characteristics may moderate this process. Chen et al [ 107 ] found that using internal or external social media for work purposes could improve employee performance; using external social media for social purposes could also improve employee performance because of reduced fatigue, but using internal social media could lead to a decrease in performance because of distraction from work tasks.…”

Instrumental ties or expressive ties? Impact mechanism of supervisor–subordinate ties based on enterprise social media on employee performance

“…With the widespread use of ESM, whether ESM usage could promote employee job performance has aroused practical and academic interest (Ma et al, 2021b). This study examined the influencing mechanism of supervisor-subordinate instrumental ties and expressive ties in ESM on employee job performance.…”

“…But the phenomenon of "building but not using ESM best" puzzles many enterprises. Therefore, whether ESM usage could promote employee job performance has aroused practical and academic interest (Ma et al, 2021b).…”

Antecedents and Consequences of Online Healthcare Community Usage: A Grounded Theory Approach

“…Grounded theory, a typical form of qualitative research, was first proposed in 1967 by Glaser and Strauss [ 11 ]. It has seen use in various fields of the social sciences [ 12 ].…”