The role and function of communities of practice as a tool for organizational learning

• Main Author: Hiscock, Anna Magdalena Kumi
• Other Authors: Fouché, B.
• Format: Others
• Language: en_ZA
• Published: Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University 2012
• Subjects: Organizational learning; Organizational change; Knowledge management; Social learning; Dissertations > Information science; Theses > Information science
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/50517

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2005. === ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The objective of this study is to gain an understanding of the role and function of Communities of Practice in managing organizational knowledge. This thesis views the organization as a learning system and focuses on key characteristics of a learning organization and Communities of Practice. The interrelationship as well as the details of these themes is described in detail. Some organizations seek to become learning organizations. Yet, implementation is elusive and is not often based on research about what constitutes a learning culture. The goals of this study is to review and analyze the key characteristics of learning organizations and Communities of Practice how they develop, and where does one start if a learning organization is to be created. A qualitative research methodology to answer the why and how question is followed to describe, explain and interpret the findings. The literature review covers specific definitions, aspects and general factors concerning CoP's and learning organizations. === AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van die studie is om die kenmerke van 'n leerorganisasie te verstaan en te beskryf, asook die doel en rol wat kennisgemeenskappe kan speel binne die konteks van so 'n organisasie om kennis te deel en te bestuur. Alhoewel sommige organisasies 'n werklike behoefte het om kennis te deel en te bestuur en uiteindelik as 'n leerorganisasie bekend te staan, is daar steeds as gevolg van onvoldoende navorsing probleme met suksesvolle implementering. Hierdie tesis poog om kennisgemeenskappe as een van die vele maniere om suksesvol te implementeer te beskryf. 'n Kwalitatiewe navorsingsmetode is gevolg om die hoekom en hoe vrae te beskryf, verduidelik en te interpreteer in die bevindinge. Die literatuurstudie sluit definisies, aspekte en algemene faktore rakende kennisgemeenskappe en leerorganisasies in.