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Summary:
Is there an opportunity with Internet to build new weak-link networks for sharing knowledge and developing innovation? This article describes the research carried out in a French Regional Chamber of Trade and Crafts. Our work consisted of establishing two successive interactive portals collecting stories: about the experiences of craftsmen using ICT and about the experiences of collaborative spouses at work. Firstly, a study of the different knowledge management models allowed us to determine the characteristics necessary for the construction of such portals. Secondly we present the tool that we have developed and implemented for craftsmen and we analysed the sharing and re-use processes by experimenting with an initial qualitative study and a quantitative phase based on 48 cases.  Thirdly we present the second tool that we are going to develop for collaborative spouses at work: we present a semantic analysis of the stories already collected, and we make recommendations for this second portal implementation. Finally we propose a discussion of the weak links concept, in order to understand the opportunity with Internet to build new weak links networks for sharing knowledge and developing innovation.

Introduction

Relations between individuals of different social networks promote the ability to adapt to new situations. The capacity for innovation seems to increase as the ideas are spread via weak links: the study by Julien et al. (2002) dealing with the innovative behaviour of small companies shows that the most innovative firms are those who use these weak links most often. Alternating strong links (a network where individuals have regular contact) and weak links (a network in which individuals have little contact) at the centre of a social body induces the effect of "structural gaps" required for new group dynamics and new strategies.  So, what are the opportunities offered by the Internet today in the establishment of new weak-link networks for knowledge sharing?

Initially, we will develop the idea of "knowledge lifecycle" by presenting the different models proposed by researchers in three successive phases: creation, sharing and reuse.  We will establish the characteristics necessary for a website dedicated to sharing narrated experiences in a weak links network.
Secondly we present Artistoria V.1 the tool that we have developed and implemented for craftsmen.  Our examination of the notion of knowledge lifecycle showed us the importance of the individual's management of the cognitive distance and of the characterisation of the reuse intentions.  We have thus developed the prototype ArtiStoria V.1 that takes all of these elements into account: we analysed the sharing and re-use processes with a study of forty-eight cases.
Thirdly we present Artistoria V.2 the second tool that we are going to develop for collaborative spouses at work. Our examination of the notion of knowledge lifecycle showed us the importance of structuring by indices.  We have thus developed the prototype "ArtiStoria V.2" that takes this element into account: we present a semantic analysis of the stories already collected, and we make recommendations for this second portal implementation.
Finally we propose a discussion of the weak links concept, in order to understand the opportunity with Internet to build new weak links networks for sharing knowledge and developing innovation.