Communication, collaboration and knowledge sharing in the course of the digital era

Project Report from the year 2013 in the subject Leadership and Human Resources - Miscellaneous, grade: 1,0, University of Cooperative Education Stuttgart; Horb, language: English, abstract: AbstractThis paper explores the practicable establishment of local Communities of Practice (CoP) on a virtual level to foster the augmentation of knowledge, sharing of practice and employee development. Communities of Practice have been identified as important sites of learning through creating and sharing knowledge within its social structures. The thesis examines how learning develops in this context and constitutes the basic theoretical attainment that is aligned to CoP. Furthermore, the paper reviews how technology can be introduced to reinforce communication and collaboration within the community. In order to build an understanding of how CoP create organizational value, the thesis not only focuses on the acknowledged learning theory models but also on the characteristics and benefits of those communities themselves as well as on virtual communities in general. Significant learning opportunities are identified within those communities, which are affirmed through a well-founded literature review on the topics Learning Organizations , Web-based Learning and Development of a framework for Human Resource Development . The review includes the identification of the HR-professional as a key player and stakeholder within the context of establishing a digitised CoP. The paper concludes with a navigator that has been evolved through merging the major findings of the literature analysis, the field research (expert-interviews) and personal contribution. Keywords Community of Practice, Learning Theory, Knowledge Transfer, Digitised Community of Practice, Virtual Communities, Collaboration, Human Resource DevelopmentTable of ContentsList of Abbreviations IVList of Graphics VAbstract VI1. Introduction 21.1 Problem and Purpose 21.2 Approach to the Thesis and outline 42. Literature Review 62.1 The virtual community 62.1.1 Terms and Definitions 62.1.2 History of virtual communities 72.1.3 A typology of virtual communities 8 2.1.4 Virtual communities for learning and development 92.2 Learning Theory 112.2.1 Situated Learning and Legitimate Peripheral Participation 112.2.2 Organizational Learning in Communities of Practice 12 2.2.2.1 Community of Practice as social learning systems 13 2.2.2.2 Online collaborative learning 142.3 Community of Practice 182.3.1 Terms and Definitions 182.3.2 Characteristics of Community of Practice 18