Assessing the Effectiveness of Communities of Practice in Knowledge Dissemination

The purpose of the current study is to analyze the efficiency of using Communities of Practice (CoPs) as a knowledge dissemination tool within different organizations. The goal of this study is how knowledge is transferred and utilized through CoPs and its impacts on organizational learning and performance. This is a mixed method study, which consisted of self-administrated questionnaires for CoP members and interviews with CoP facilitators and other key informants. Results suggest that CoPs enhance knowledge sharing, foster collaborative problem solving and improve the capabilities of individuals and groups. It was noted that optimal CoP functioning is highly dependent on well designated employees, leadership support, a trusting environment and active guidance. The findings are useful for those organizations which are interested in using CoPs as part of their strategic knowledge management and CoPs development plans.