A Facilitators' Perspective on Successful Virtual Communities of Practice

Abstract

Communities of Practice have become a key instrument in organizational knowledge management. Understanding characteristics of successful CoP can help in avoiding failed communities. Facilitator can contribute in helping communities to thrive. Facilitators' experience dealing with communities and its members can help in understanding more about surrounding issue of successful community. In this study, we tried to answer the research question: what are the common characteristics of successful virtual communities of practice? We asked experience communities of practice facilitators regarding their experience in facilitating successful communities. Several common characteristics of successful communities of practice are identified and discussed.