Motivation factors of knowledge collaboration in virtual communities of practice: a perspective from system dynamics

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 466-488 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Wang ◽  
Ruilin Zhang ◽  
Jin-Xing Hao ◽  
Xuanyi Chen
Keyword(s):  
Communities Of Practice ◽  
System Dynamics ◽  
Virtual Communities ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Motivation Factors ◽  
Knowledge Collaboration ◽  
Virtual Communities Of Practice ◽  
Over Time ◽  
Sd Model

PurposeAlthough researchers have demonstrated a significant interest in motivation factors of knowledge collaboration, previous studies have seldom explored the dynamic interrelations in virtual communities of practice (VCoPs) over time that involve the iteratively melding of knowledge collaboration motivations and behaviours. Therefore, this study aims to unveil the interactive dynamics amongst motivation factors of knowledge collaboration in VCoPs from a perspective of system dynamics (SD).Design/methodology/approachAccording to the SD method proposed by Forrester, this paper develops an SD model of motivation factors of knowledge collaboration in VCoP by identifying interactions of motivation factors based on behavioural theories, validating the proposed model by structural tests and behaviour tests involving historical data from 939 Wikipedians and analysing the impacts of policy regulations on knowledge collaboration behaviours in Wikipedia.FindingsIn accordance with current literature, this study categorises intrinsic, extrinsic and community motivation factors of knowledge collaborations in VCoPs. According to the SD method, this study develops and validates an SD model to reveal interesting non-linear dynamics of these motivation factors which are neglected by prior studies. This study also conducts dynamic what-if analyses to suggest policy regulations to promote knowledge collaborations in the context of Wikipedia.Originality/valueDifferent from prior empirical studies which normally take on a snapshot of motivation factors, this study discloses a dynamic picture of their interrelations by unfolding their behaviour patterns over time. The main contribution of this paper is to develop and validate an SD model of motivation factors of knowledge collaboration in VCoP and to reveal and elaborate their dynamics for policy regulations in VCoPs based on simulation results.

A system dynamics investigation of knowledge collaboration in online encyclopedias based on activity theory

Kybernetes ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fengjun Liu ◽  
Zhengkui Lin ◽  
Yi Qu
Keyword(s):  
System Dynamics ◽  
Activity Theory ◽  
Complex Dynamics ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Nonlinear Feedback ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Linear Relationships ◽  
Knowledge Collaboration ◽  
Over Time ◽  
Sd Model

Purpose Although researchers have demonstrated a keen interest in knowledge collaboration in online encyclopedias, previous studies have seldom explored the dynamic interrelations in online encyclopedias over time that involve the iteratively melding of individual cognitive system and knowledge collaboration system. Therefore, this paper aims to reveal the structure and dynamics of knowledge collaboration in online encyclopedias from a perspective of system dynamics (SD). Design/methodology/approach This paper proposes a general activity system of knowledge collaboration in online encyclopedias based on Engeström’s activity theory. According to the SD methodology proposed by Forrester, this study develops a holistic SD model by identifying interactions of knowledge collaboration factors based on behavioral theories; validating the SD model by structural tests and behavior tests involving historical data of English Wikipedia; and conducting simulation to capture the interactive dynamics of the salient factors of knowledge collaboration. Findings According to the SD methodology, this study develops and validates an SD model to explore interesting dynamic interrelations among core factors (contributors, conflicts, discussions, entries quantity and entries quality) that are neglected by previous research. The results show that there is a significant negative feedback relationship between inactive contributors and entries quality, between contributors and conflicts and between edit conflicts and entries quality. There is a complicated nonlinear feedback relationship between active contributors and entries quality, and between edit conflicts and discussions. Originality/value Different from prior empirical studies that normally investigate the unidirectional linear relationships among prominent factors of knowledge collaboration in online encyclopedias from a static perspective, this study captures a dynamic picture of their interrelations by unfolding their behavior patterns over time. The main contribution of this study is to develop a holistic SD model and to reveal and elaborate on the complex dynamics involved online encyclopedias based on activity theory.

Facilitator Toolkit for Building and Sustaining Virtual Communities of Practice

2011 ◽  
pp. 202-215 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Kimball ◽  
Amy Ladd
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
Communities Of Practice ◽  
Community Of Practice ◽  
Virtual Communities ◽  
Collaborative Work ◽  
Work Training ◽  
Virtual Communities Of Practice ◽  
Over Time

The boundaries of a Community of Practice (CoP) have changed significantly because of changes in organizations and the nature of the work they do. Organizations have become more distributed across geography and across industries. Relationships between people inside an organization and those previously considered outside (customers, suppliers, managers of collaborating organizations, other stakeholders) are becoming more important. In addition, organizations have discovered the value of collaborative work due to the new emphasis on Knowledge Management—harvesting the learning and the experience of members of the organization so that it is available to the whole organization. This chapter offers a practical toolkit of best practices, tips and examples from the authors’ work training leaders to launch and sustain a virtual CoP, including tips for chartering the community, defining roles, and creating the culture that will sustain the community over time.

Cultivating virtual communities of practice in KAFKA

2018 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabio Sartori ◽  
Riccardo Melen ◽  
Stefano Pinardi
Keyword(s):  
Communities Of Practice ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Virtual Communities ◽  
Management Systems ◽  
Practical Application ◽  
Knowledge Modeling ◽  
Computational Tools ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Virtual Communities Of Practice ◽  
Modeling Level

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present a framework for cultivating virtual communities of practice in distributed environments. The framework is based on the integration of knowledge artifacts and wearable technologies. Design/methodology/approach The proposed knowledge artifact is based on the correlation between conceptual and computational tools for the representation of different kinds of knowledge. Findings In this way, it is possible to make deeper the collaboration between knowledge seekers and contributors within the community, given that seekers and contributors share, at least in part, design choices at the knowledge modeling level. Originality/value A practical application of the framework has been described, to show its originality with respect to traditional knowledge management systems. In particular, it has been demonstrated how lurking phenomenon inside communities of practice can be significantly reduced. To this aim, opportune indexes have been defined from existing ones in literature.

scholarly journals It is rotating leaders who build the swarm: social network determinants of growth for healthcare virtual communities of practice

2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 1218-1239 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grazia Antonacci ◽  
Andrea Fronzetti Colladon ◽  
Alessandro Stefanini ◽  
Peter Gloor
Keyword(s):  
Social Network ◽  
Communities Of Practice ◽  
Virtual Communities ◽  
Semantic Analysis ◽  
Interaction Patterns ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Virtual Communities Of Practice ◽  
Community Growth ◽  
Web Platform

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify the factors influencing the growth of healthcare virtual communities of practice (VCoPs) through a seven-year longitudinal study conducted using metrics from social-network and semantic analysis. By studying online communication along the three dimensions of social interactions (connectivity, interactivity and language use), the authors aim to provide VCoP managers with valuable insights to improve the success of their communities. Design/methodology/approach Communications over a period of seven years (April 2008 to April 2015) and between 14,000 members of 16 different healthcare VCoPs coexisting on the same web platform were analysed. Multilevel regression models were used to reveal the main determinants of community growth over time. Independent variables were derived from social network and semantic analysis measures. Findings Results show that structural and content-based variables predict the growth of the community. Progressively, more people will join a community if its structure is more centralised, leaders are more dynamic (they rotate more) and the language used in the posts is less complex. Research limitations/implications The available data set included one Web platform and a limited number of control variables. To consolidate the findings of the present study, the experiment should be replicated on other healthcare VCoPs. Originality/value The study provides useful recommendations for setting up and nurturing the growth of professional communities, considering, at the same time, the interaction patterns among the community members, the dynamic evolution of these interactions and the use of language. New analytical tools are presented, together with the use of innovative interaction metrics, that can significantly influence community growth, such as rotating leadership.

The Challenge of Evaluating Virtual Communities of Practice: A Systematic Mapping Study

10.28945/4505 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 039-064
Author(s):  
Rogerio Ferreira da Silva ◽  
Itana Maria de Souza Gimenes ◽  
José Carlos Maldonado
Keyword(s):  
Communities Of Practice ◽  
Virtual Communities ◽  
Evaluation Process ◽  
Evaluation Methods ◽  
Systematic Mapping Study ◽  
Research Gaps ◽  
Systematic Mapping ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Virtual Communities Of Practice ◽  
Selection Of

Aim/Purpose: This paper presents a study of Virtual Communities of Practice (VCoP) evaluation methods that aims to identify their current status and impact on knowledge sharing. The purposes of the study are as follows: (i) to identify trends and research gaps in VCoP evaluation methods; and, (ii) to assist researchers to position new research activities in this domain. Background: VCoP have become a popular knowledge sharing mechanism for both individuals and organizations. Their evaluation process is complex; however, it is recognized as an essential means to provide evidences of community effectiveness. Moreover, VCoP have introduced additional features to face to face Communities of Practice (CoP) that need to be taken into account in evaluation processes, such as geographical dispersion. The fact that VCoP rely on Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to execute their practices as well as storing artifacts virtually makes more consistent data analysis possible; thus, the evaluation process can apply automatic data gathering and analysis. Methodology: A systematic mapping study, based on five research questions, was carried out in order to analyze existing studies about VCoP evaluation methods and frameworks. The mapping included searching five research databases resulting in the selection of 1,417 papers over which a formal analysis process was applied. This process led to the preliminary selection of 39 primary studies for complete reading. After reading them, we select 28 relevant primary studies from which data was extracted and synthesized to answer the proposed research questions. Contribution: The authors of the primary studies analyzed along this systematic mapping propose a set of methods and strategies for evaluating VCoP, such as frameworks, processes and maturity models. Our main contribution is the identification of some research gaps present in the body of studies, in order to stimulate projects that can improve VCoP evaluation methods and support its important role in social learning. Findings: The systematic mapping led to the conclusion that most of the approaches for VCoP evaluation do not consider the combination of data structured and unstructured metrics. In addition, there is a lack of guidelines to support community operators’ actions based on evaluation metrics.

scholarly journals Virtual communities of practice to improve clinical outcomes in healthcare: protocol for a 10-year scoping review

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. e046998
Author(s):  
Louise Shaw ◽  
Dana Jazayeri ◽  
Debra Kiegaldie ◽  
Meg Morris
Keyword(s):  
Communities Of Practice ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Virtual Communities ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Falls Prevention ◽  
Support Network ◽  
Search Term ◽  
Online Databases ◽  
Relevant Stakeholder ◽  
Virtual Communities Of Practice

IntroductionVirtual communities of practice (VCoPs) use a common online platform to provide healthcare professionals with the opportunity to access highly specialised knowledge, build a professional support network and promote the translation of research evidence into practice. There is limited reporting of how best to design and administer VCoPs within healthcare organisations. The primary aim of this scoping review is to identify the best methods used to establish and maintain VCoPs. Findings shall be used to develop a flexible framework to guide the establishment and facilitation of a VCoP for healthcare professionals to ensure the translation of falls prevention clinical guidelines into practice.Methods and analysisA five-stage scoping review process will be followed based on Arksey and O’Malley’s framework and refined by the Joanna Briggs Institute Methodology. An initial limited search of PubMed and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature will identify relevant studies and assist with search term development. This will be followed by a search of five online databases to identify papers published from January 2010 until November 2020. Papers will be independently screened by two reviewers, and data extracted and analysed using a reporting framework. Qualitative data will be analysed thematically and numerical synthesis of the data will be conducted.Results and disseminationThe results of this scoping review will highlight the best ways to design and manage VCoPs in healthcare organisations. The findings will be presented at relevant stakeholder workshops, conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals.

scholarly journals Creating relationship continuity across projects in the construction industry

IMP Journal ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 207-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Malena Ingemansson Havenvid ◽  
Elsebeth Holmen ◽  
Åse Linné ◽  
Ann-Charlott Pedersen
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Mutual Orientation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Construction Firms ◽  
Relationship Continuity ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Strategy Types ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Over Time

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship continuity across projects among actors in the construction industry, and to discuss why and how such continuity takes place. Design/methodology/approach The authors draw on the results from four in-depth case studies illustrating different strategies for pursuing relationship continuity. The results are analysed and discussed in light of the oft-mentioned strategies suggested by Mintzberg (1987): emergent, deliberate and deliberately emergent strategies. Furthermore, the ARA-model is used to discuss why the relationship continuity strategies are pursued, and which factors might enable and constrain the relationship continuity. Findings The main findings are twofold. First, the authors found that the strategy applied for pursuing relationship continuity may, in one-time period, contain one type of strategy or a mix of strategy types. Second, the type of strategy may evolve over time, from one type of strategy being more pronounced in one period, to other strategies being more pronounced in later periods. The strategies applied by construction firms and their counterparts can thus contain elements of emergent, deliberate and deliberately emergent strategies, in varying degrees over time. It is also shown that the strategies of the involved actors co-evolve as a result of interaction. Also, the main reasons for pursuing continuity appear to lie in the re-use and development of important resources and activities across projects to create efficiency and the possibility to develop mutual orientation, commitment and trust over time, and thus reduce uncertainty. Research limitations/implications Further empirical studies are needed to support the findings. For managers, the main implication is that relationship continuity can arise as part of an emerging interaction pattern between firms or as part of a planned strategy, but that elements of both might be needed to sustain it. Originality/value The authors combine Mintzberg’s strategy concepts with the ARA-model to bring new light to the widely debated issue of discontinuity and fragmentation in the construction industry.

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