# Monetary reward mechanism for promoting online knowledge sharing: A modeling study

## TL;DR

This study explores how monetary rewards can be used to encourage online knowledge sharing by applying optimal control modeling techniques.

## Contribution

The first application of optimal control modeling to the study of knowledge sharing promotion.

## Key findings

- A state evolutionary model was developed for knowledge-sharing communities.
- An algorithm was proposed and validated for solving the optimal control model.
- The algorithm's applicability was inspected and confirmed.

## Abstract

Knowledge sharing is critical for an organization to acquire sustained competitive advantage. Bestowing monetary rewards may possibly the most direct method of stimulating online knowledge sharing. Under the monetary reward mechanism for promoting knowledge sharing, we intend to find a satisfactory knowledge-sharing promotion policy. First, based on a state evolutionary model for the knowledge-sharing community, we reduce the original problem to an optimal control model. Second, applying optimal control theory to the model, we give an algorithm for solving the model. Next, we validate the feasibility of the algorithm. Finally, we inspect the applicability of the algorithm. To our knowledge, this is the first time the optimal control modeling technique is applied to the research of knowledge sharing.