Sebastian Schulz 
Communication, collaboration and knowledge sharing in the course of the digital era [PDF ebook] 
An examination of virtual communities as organizational units and their impact on capitalizing on collective intelligence and work efficiency using the example of ‘Communities of Practice’

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: Abstract
This paper explores the practicable establishment of local Communities of Practice (Co P) 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 Co P. 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 Co P 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 Co P. 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 Development
Table of Contents
List of Abbreviations IV
List of Graphics V
Abstract VI
1. Introduction 2
1.1 Problem and Purpose 2
1.2 Approach to the Thesis and outline 4
2. Literature Review 6
2.1 The virtual community 6
2.1.1 Terms and Definitions 6
2.1.2 History of virtual communities 7
2.1.3 A typology of virtual communities 8
2.1.4 Virtual communities for learning and development 9
2.2 Learning Theory 11
2.2.1 Situated Learning and Legitimate Peripheral Participation 11
2.2.2 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 14
2.3 Community of Practice 18
2.3.1 Terms and Definitions 18
2.3.2 Characteristics of Community of Practice 18