The community of practice-based management model

Abstract

This conceptual paper offers the convergence between two concepts now separated in the literature: the community of practice and the management model. The paper introduces the results of the theoretical research on the community of practice-based management model, the self-managing, human-friendly, knowledge sharing and innovativeness-supporting management model with high potential for the changeable environment. The research objective to analyse and explain the relationship between the concept of communities of practice and the management model is specified in two research questions: ‘How are the concepts of CoPs and management model connected in the community of practice-based management model?’ and ‘How do CoP-based management models work? What are their characteristics, advantages and disadvantages?’ The paper provides two examples of companies that combined both concepts in the community of practice-based management model and provides a discussion on the specifics of this unique model. The paper fills the research gap in the field of the theory of management – the community of practice-based management model, even though adopted by organisations in practice, still lacks adequate attention in the theoretical literature.