Web-based Learning Solutions for Communities of Practice

A Process-Oriented and Technology-Based Model of Virtual Communities of Practices
Table 1. People of the “Virtual eBMS” community
Value Proposition
The “Virtual eBMS” value proposition is to enhance
intellectual capital creation. Intellectual
Capital could be framed into three interdependent
elements: human, social, and structural capital
(Seeman et al., 2000). Human capital is defined as
knowledge, skills and attitudes created in people
(Global Business Capabilities). Social Capital
reflects the ability of groups to collaborate and to
work together and is a function of trust. Structural
capital is usually defined as buildings, software,
processes, patents, organization’s image and
values, information system, databases.
Primary Values
Members typology Profile
Staff Researcher, professors and administrative staff of the institution
Student Students attending the advanced education activities of the institution
Lecturer Researchers or professors from other institutions
Partner People of industries or universities involved in joint activities
Testimonial Outstanding people invited for conferences, talks and meetings
Alumni People that attended with success educational program of the institution
Visitor People that occasionally visit the community
The “Virtual eBMS” primary values are the
following:
• Information and Communication Technologies
(ICTs) make individuals and organizations
distinctively competitive in every field.
ICTs change the way people live and work,
as well as the way companies and institutions
organize themselves and interact with
each other.
Knowledge should be created through a
cross-disciplinary approach, supported by
experiential laboratories, where participants
think, work and learn together how to invent
new ICT-based business configurations.
• Diversity means richness. The eBMS strongly
encourage a multicultural environment
based on mutual respect and trust because
innovation springs from comparison and
exchange of different experiences, passions
and emotions.
• ”Mediterraneity” is a synonym of culture
and dialogue. The eBMS is in the core of the
Mediterranean area and it would like to be
a bridge to promote innovation in Southern
Mediterranean Countries.
• Public and private Partnerships with national
and international Centers of Excellence,
represent a strategic lever to assure competence
growth and the internationalization of
higher education and research activities.
• New business models and organizational
practices should be developed to seize the
opportunities deriving from the Internet
Economy.
Knowledge Sources
The Knowledge sources in the “Virtual eBMS”
can be organized around domains – specialized
areas of knowledge, subject areas, disciplines,
frequently used information and similar characteristic
knowledge. The following domains shown in
Tab. 2 (both general purpose and specific context)
have been considered for developing the eBMS
knowledge base, according to the education and
research activities.
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