Virtual Communities of Practice: Collaborative Learning and Knowledge Management

This paper explores the potential use of virtual Communities of Practice (CoP) to help the development of knowledge, sharing of practice and knowledge management. It reviews the development and nature of virtual communities of learning and how new technologies can be introduced to help communication and collaboration, particularly useful within a networked business community. It also compares the features of the main tools for CoP and suggests how to choose the most appropriate technologies to develop and enhance a professional community. It concludes that CoP, whether virtual or face-to-face, can assist the dissemination of knowledge and contribute to knowledge management and professional development.