Using ontologies and social network analysis for web 2.0 enabled knowledge sharing

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I am interested in developing theories and applications for enabling new and powerful ways to share knowledge using information systems. The basis of my research is that knowledge sharing requires commonality in content AND context. Commonality in content refers to shared understanding of meanings of vocabulary, rules, and conventions. Commonality in context refers to common characteristics and environment of the sharers. Those that share similar contexts are much more likely to have shared understanding and hence apt to use a knowledge sharing system more effectively than those whose contexts are different. The underlying thesis of my research is that a knowledge sharing system constructed by combining models of content (ontologies) and context (from social network analysis) is more effective than a system built on models of content or context alone. With Web-based computing evolving to a paradigm popularly termed Web 2.0, I plan to explore the research opportunity that lies in applying Web 2.0 concepts and tools to my research thesis. Specifically, I plan to use corporate Wikis, blogs, social bookmarks, and social networking as sources to explicate and refine the content of ontologies, and analyze link structures to model the context of ontologies. Semantic Web technologies will be used to implement these ontologies.