Experiencing collaborative knowledge creation processes

Abstract

Purpose How people learn and create knowledge together through interactions in communities of practice (CoPs) is not fully understood. The purpose of this paper is to create and apply a model that could increase participants' consciousness about knowledge creation processes. Design/methodology/approach This four-month qualitative research was conducted as action research (AR). Data were collected through participative inquiry. Findings Drawing on current developments in the knowledge creation theory of knowledge management (KM) and taking the collaborative learning approach (CLA), the model of collaborative knowledge creation process (CKCP) is constructed and applied. It brings structure into highly unstructured human processes of knowledge creation and helps participants to understand what they are doing and why. Research limitations/implications It is difficult to assess the quality, validity and objectivity of the data as the researcher was a member of the community. Further research could address the role of diversity and social context, and the formation of the community identity. Practical implications Members of this specific community (i.e. managers, teachers, students, and experts) reflected that the implemented way of learning helped them to realize the importance of interactions, exchanges, and collective experiences in community knowledge creation. Originality/value Applying AR is rather exceptional in KM. However, it proved to be a good way of experiencing knowledge creation processes in communities. The novelty of the study is in contributing to the KM theory by opening the black box of community knowledge creation by demonstrating in practice how people interacted and created knowledge in a specific community. © 2008, Emerald Group Publishing Limited