Web-based Learning Solutions for Communities of Practice

326
Conditions and Key Success Factors for the Management of Communities of Practice
Success Key Factors shown in this analysis
were taken into account. Should there have
been further failure cases, there could have
been more details for those cases where CoPs
are a valid knowledge management tool in
companies.
• The sample is constituted by experiences
documented and published by other authors,
which of course prevent authors from having
access to the information and knowledge
needed to go deeper in their analysis. Authors
hope that the variables analyzed could be
considered for other researchers in future
case studies to develop a more consistent
research avenue.
General Interest
This chapter has been written having in mind
a broad public, ranging from academics and
researchers (MSc and PhD students) to professionals
in industry, interested in the Knowledge
Management field and the Communities of Practice
from a pragmatic point of view, oriented
to identify practices that had shown increased
performance.
Authors have prioritized a managerial point
of view, looking at case studies, and emphasizing
results over firms in a challenging environment,
considering its contribution on some key subjects
such as innovation, knowledge management,
learning, technology, and motivational approach,
that are studied from this additional point of
view.
Authors expect that academics and researchers
will find the chapter useful in incorporating
the Management approach to their advanced
postgraduate and PhD materials on communities
of practices. Industry professionals would obtain
useful insight for re-considering management
strategies, personnel relationship management
and learning organizations.
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