Abstract Intrafirm knowledge sharing is a key to knowledge management and firm core competence. Following a social network perspective, a knowledge sharing optimization approach based on formal structures and informal networks is presented. By deconstructing the intrafirm social network of a firm, formal structure, informal network and their four substructuresdisregarded formal structures, utilized formal structure, utilized informal networks and potential informal networks are analyzed. According to the characteristics of these substructures, key knowledge agents and taskoriented knowledge sharing gaps are identified. At last, the corresponding knowledge sharing optimization strategies are discussed.
2012, Vol. 9 
