Realizing potential: a real option perspective on communities of practice in organizational transformation

Abstract

This research aims to explore the recognized advantages of Communities of Practice (CoPs) in enhancing knowledge sharing and spurring organizational transformation. Despite their acknowledged importance, CoPs often receive inadequate attention or representation in numerous organizations, likely due to leaders' unfamiliarity or insufficient skills to manage such groups. This study introduces the "Real Option Perspective" as the recommended approach for top executives to understand and leverage CoPs. Initially, it clarifies the concepts of CoPs and the Real Option Perspective, highlighting their significance. These concepts then lay the groundwork for developing a management model for CoPs. The proposed management trajectory for CoPs involves five phases: Investment in CoPs, Recognition of Stagnation, Re-engagement with CoPs, Transition of Value, and finally, Dissolution and Feedback. This research seeks to expand the applicability of the Real Options framework in managing CoPs, providing leaders with strategic insights to fully realize the potential of CoPs in line with organizational objectives.

Keywords: {'name': 'Social Learning'}, {'name': 'Communitiy of Practices'}

Authors & affiliations

Tz-Li Wang
Affiliation not supplied

Deposited references

Supplied references, not a list of publications citing this article.

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-22234-9_2

DOI: 10.1509/jim.15.0130

Ahi, M. (2017). Foreign Market Entry Mode Decision-Making: Insights from Real Options Reasoning.

DOI: 10.1108/VINE-03-2014-0022

DOI: 10.1108/IJCTHR-12-2020-0285

Amram, M., & Kulatilaka, N. (1999) Real options?Managing Strategic Investment in an Uncertain World. Boston: Harvard Business Review.

DOI: 10.5465/amj.2007.24634457

DOI: 10.5465/AMPROC.2023.192bp

DOI: 10.1177/0899764012450777

DOI: 10.1016/j.techsoc.2021.101635

DOI: 10.5204/jld.v9i1.234

DOI: 10.1177/1056492617726393

Bhattacharyya, K. (2012). Communities of Practice facilitating learning and innovation in the Indian Administrative Services-A qualitative investigative study (Doctoral dissertation, City University London).

DOI: 10.1007/s11205-020-02356-1

DOI: 10.1016/j.lrp.2019.101950

DOI: 10.1080/1360144X.2020.1717783

DOI: 10.1080/14778238.2022.2120837

DOI: 10.1108/13673270910962879

DOI: 10.1016/j.emj.2010.08.004

DOI: 10.5465/amr.1993.9402210157

DOI: 10.1287/orsc.12.6.772.10080

DOI: 10.1016/j.ibusrev.2019.101639

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0267533

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2020.102007

DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.2016.080549

DOI: 10.1016/j.indmarman.2018.08.013

DOI: 10.2307/41166370

DOI: 10.1007/978-981-10-0983-9_11

DOI: 10.1111/j.1540-6210.2009.01987_2.x

DOI: 10.1007/s40593-020-00215-1

DOI: 10.1080/10508406.2014.883978

DOI: 10.17645/mac.v10i2.5053

DOI: 10.1007/s10551-022-05252-5

DOI: 10.1177/0963721413504106

DOI: 10.1080/00071005.2015.1133799

Forrest, N. (2021). Supporting New Teacher Development: An Examination of New Teacher Integration into Professional Learning Communities (Doctoral dissertation, Arizona State University).

DOI: 10.1108/JWL-04-2015-0028

DOI: 10.1177/2158244019867859

DOI: 10.1080/13678868.2020.1779911

DOI: 10.1108/13673271111151992

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijedro.2021.100048

DOI: 10.1147/sj.404.0842

DOI: 10.1109/EMR.2020.3045012

DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2022.12.095

DOI: 10.1002/csr.2202

DOI: 10.1145/1067699.1067705

DOI: 10.1057/s41275-017-0066-6

DOI: 10.1108/13673271111108666

DOI: 10.14689/ejer.2020.85.8

DOI: 10.1108/JKM-03-2016-0098

DOI: 10.1177/2278533714551861

DOI: 10.1108/JKM-06-2013-0233

DOI: 10.1111/ijtd.12095

DOI: 10.5465/amj.2010.0772

DOI: 10.1080/07421222.2018.1440770

DOI: 10.1016/j.giq.2019.07.003

DOI: 10.1037/a0024198

DOI: 10.1287/orsc.12.6.744.10082

DOI: 10.1002/jsc.2321

DOI: 10.1108/VJIKMS-09-2020-0167

DOI: 10.1017/CBO9780511815355

DOI: 10.17705/1jais.00577

Lesser, E., & Everest, K. (2001) ' Using communities of practice to manage intellectual capital '. Ivey Business Journal 65(4), 37-41.

DOI: 10.1002/jls.21499

DOI: 10.5465/amj.2010.0844

DOI: 10.1002/bse.3305

DOI: 10.1108/JKM-03-2020-0234

DOI: 10.1016/S1467-0895(02)00039-8

DOI: 10.1108/13673270110384428

DOI: 10.1007/s10393-014-0958-3

DOI: 10.1016/j.pubrev.2020.101927

Mohajan, H. K. (2017). Roles of communities of practice for the development of the society. Journal of Economic Development, Environment and People, 6(3), 27-46.

DOI: 10.1186/s41469-021-00090-7

Muneb, M. (2023). Detaching from goals and renouncing responsibilities: Exploring CoP members’ views on their knowledge sharing responsibilities: a case study.

DOI: 10.5465/annals.2020.0330

Omotayo, F. O. (2015). Knowledge Management as an important tool in Organisational Management: A Review of Literature. Library Philosophy and Practice, 1(2015), 1-23.

DOI: 10.1108/JKM-05-2013-0168

DOI: 10.1016/j.tate.2017.06.013

DOI: 10.1002/smj.2757

DOI: 10.1177/0018726716661040

DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2015.07.004

DOI: 10.1007/s12008-015-0291-2

DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-6486.2006.00618.x

DOI: 10.1002/bse.3334

DOI: 10.1080/13639080.2023.2255149

DOI: 10.1007/978-981-10-2879-3_13

DOI: 10.1108/JIC-05-2015-0046

DOI: 10.1088/1757-899X/753/6/062005

DOI: 10.1891/2168-6653.34.1.2

DOI: 10.1108/JKM-01-2021-0026

DOI: 10.1002/smj.2593

DOI: 10.3390/systems6040036

DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4842-4203-2_6

Waite, A. J. P. (2018). One of Us? How do Developing Market Professionals Engage with International Communities of Practice? (Doctoral dissertation, University of Leicester).

DOI: 10.1016/j.erss.2022.102797

DOI: 10.1007/978-1-84996-133-2_8

DOI: 10.1017/CBO9780511803932

Wenger, E. C., & Snyder, W. M. (2000) ' Communities of practice: The organizational frontier '. Harvard Business Review 78(1), 139-145.

Wenger, E., McDermott, R., & Snyder, W. (2002) Cultivating communities of practice: A guide to managing knowledge. Boston, MA: Harvard Business School.

DOI: 10.1002/kpm.1398

DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2013.05.042

DOI: 10.29333/ejecs/801

DOI: 10.1108/JKM-10-2021-0780

DOI: 10.1108/13673271111179352