The Advances in Knowledge Communities and Social Networks (AKCSN) Book Series is a multi-disciplinary international book series that publishes high-quality, original research about knowledge communications, social networking and knowledge management. Knowledge, in this global world may be treated as a flexible medium providing dynamic concepts that should be shared, nurtured and developed rather than possessed and stifled. Recent advancements in economics of knowledge have been made it possible to acknowledge the role of knowledge communities in the knowledge production process, and knowledge has be characterized as a good though its existence is rather invisible, creating cumulative effects in the overall production system. In most cases, knowledge communities are being built around small and medium entrepreneurships, in the form of local, national, regional and global infrastructures by establishing network of communications (social networks) that are being utilized to improve innovation of services at the grass roots.

The information revolution based on the decade-long advances in information networking, knowledge communication and knowledge networking are providing knowledge management tools and techniques at all tiers of society development processes. At the same time, the technologies underpinning the development of the knowledge society are intensifying the revolution through development of knowledge chains. Therefore, advances in knowledge communities and social networks deserve special attention from potential research groups that are active in the field of knowledge management and knowledge communications. The AKCSN Book Series also serves as a forum for scholars and practitioners to present theoretical and philosophical discussions on most recent issues relating to the practice of knowledge management.

The AKCSN aims to supply academicians, practitioners, and professionals with quality applied research results in the field of electronic/digital government, its applications and impacts on governmental organizations around the world. It is the intention of this book series to effectively and positively provide organizational and managerial directions with greater use and management of electronic/digital government technologies in organizations.