scholarly journals Using Social Network Analysis to Improve Communities of Practice

2006 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rob Cross ◽  
Tim Laseter ◽  
Andrew Parker ◽  
Guillermo Velasquez
Keyword(s):  
Social Network ◽  
Social Network Analysis ◽  
Network Analysis ◽  
Communities Of Practice

Understanding Knowledge Networks Through Social Network Analysis

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronel Davel ◽  
Adeline S. A. Du Toit ◽  
Martie M Mearns
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Social Network Analysis ◽  
Network Analysis ◽  
Communities Of Practice ◽  
Knowledge Networks ◽  
Informal Networks ◽  
Process Map ◽  
Knowledge Maps

Social network analysis (SNA) is being increasingly deployed as an instrument to plot knowledge and expertise as well as to confirm the character of connections in informal networks within organisations. This study investigated how the integration of networking into KM can produce significant advantages for organisations. The aim of the research was to examine how the interactions between SNA, Communities of Practice (CoPs) and knowledge maps could potentially influence knowledge networks. The researchers endeavour to illustrate via this question that cultivating synergies between SNA, CoPs and knowledge maps will enable organisations to produce stronger knowledge networks and ultimately increase their social capital. This article intends to present a process map that can be useful when an organisation wants to positively increase its social capital by examining influencing interactions between SNA, CoPs and knowledge maps, thereby enhancing the manner in which they share and create knowledge.

Discovering Communities of Practice Through Social Network Analysis

2011 ◽  
pp. 129-130
Author(s):  
Cindi Smatt ◽  
Molly McLure Wasko
Keyword(s):  
Social Network ◽  
Social Network Analysis ◽  
Network Analysis ◽  
Communities Of Practice ◽  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
Community Of Practice ◽  
Knowledge Economy ◽  
Building Block ◽  
Autonomous Communities ◽  
Network Connections

The concept of a community of practice is emerging as an essential building block of the knowledge economy. Brown and Duguid (2001) argue that organizations should be conceptualized as consisting of autonomous communities whose interactions can foster innovation within an organization and accelerate the introduction of innovative ideas. The key to competitive advantage depends on a firm’s ability to coordinate across autonomous communities of practice internally and leverage the knowledge that flows into these communities from network connections (Brown & Duguid, 2001). But how does an organization do this? A key challenge for management is understanding how to balance strategies that capture knowledge without killing it (Brown & Duguid, 2000).

Social Network Analysis and Communities of Practice

2011 ◽  
pp. 474-480 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dimitris Asimakopoulos ◽  
Jie Yan
Keyword(s):  
Social Network ◽  
Social Network Analysis ◽  
Network Analysis ◽  
Social Science ◽  
Communities Of Practice ◽  
Empirical Research ◽  
Historical Perspective ◽  
Social Science Research ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Software Packages

Social network analysis (Scott, 2000; Wasserman & Faust, 1994) is a relatively new theory and methodology that has found wide application in social science research. In the early 2000s, an increasing number of scholars have been interested in computerized Social Network Analysis (SNA) and have adopted social network theory and techniques to study communities of practice (CoPs). In this article, the authors introduce SNA from a historical perspective, compare SNA with non-network theories and methods, and introduce popular SNA software packages. With reference to recent empirical research, the authors discuss several areas in which SNA has been applied to CoP research.

Discovering Communities of Practice Through Social Network Analysis

2011 ◽  
pp. 2057-2059
Author(s):  
Cindi Smatt ◽  
Molly McLure Wasko
Keyword(s):  
Social Network ◽  
Social Network Analysis ◽  
Network Analysis ◽  
Communities Of Practice ◽  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
Community Of Practice ◽  
Knowledge Economy ◽  
Building Block ◽  
Autonomous Communities ◽  
Network Connections

The concept of a community of practice is emerging as an essential building block of the knowledge economy. Brown and Duguid (2001) argue that organizations should be conceptualized as consisting of autonomous communities whose interactions can foster innovation within an organization and accelerate the introduction of innovative ideas. The key to competitive advantage depends on a firm’s ability to coordinate across autonomous communities of practice internally and leverage the knowledge that flows into these communities from network connections (Brown & Duguid, 2001). But how does an organization do this? A key challenge for management is understanding how to balance strategies that capture knowledge without killing it (Brown & Duguid, 2000).

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