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Afraid of engagement? Towards an understanding of engagement in virtual communities of practice

Haas, Aurore; Abonneau, David; Borzillo, S.; Guillaume, L.-P. (2020), Afraid of engagement? Towards an understanding of engagement in virtual communities of practice, Knowledge Management Research & Practice, p. 1-12. 10.1080/14778238.2020.1745704

Type
Article accepté pour publication ou publié
Date
2020
Journal name
Knowledge Management Research & Practice
Pages
1-12
Publication identifier
Metadata
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Author(s)
Haas, Aurore
Abonneau, David
Borzillo, S.
Guillaume, L.-P.
Abstract (FR)
Cette recherche porte sur la notion d'engagement dans les communautés de pratique d'entreprises. Une communauté de pratique est un groupe de salariés se réunissant autour d'un centre d'intérêt commun, pour échanger de bonnes pratiques et créer des connaissances. Ce papier, fondé sur une recherche empirique effectuée chez Schneider Electric, met en lumière le lien entre engagement au travail et engagement dans une communauté de pratique organisationnelle. Ces travaux montrent également l'importance de la perception par les salariés de la valeur de la communauté, pour favoriser leur engagement. Les contributions de cette recherche sont méthodologiques (création d'un outil de mesure de la valeur d'une communauté de pratique), théoriques et pratiques.
Abstract (EN)
Virtual communities of practice (VCoPs) foster learning and knowledge sharing between employees. However, many virtual communities of practice fail due to the lack of engagement of collaborators. Employees often claim that they do not have time for such communities. This paper investigates the determinants of engagement in virtual communities of practice. Based on a rare survey of members of VCoPs at Schneider Electric, a multinational company of 137 000 employees, this research highlights the relations between job engagement, the perceived value of virtual communities of practice by members, and engagement in VCoPs. As such, respondents report higher levels of engagement in virtual communities of practice as their engagement in their job increases. Further, the perceived value of VCoPs mediates partially the relation between job engagement and engagement in VCoPs. These results lead to solutions for managers to implement, to increase the engagement of collaborators in virtual communities of practice.
Subjects / Keywords
multinational; value of communities of practice; knowledge sharing
JEL
D85 - Network Formation and Analysis: Theory
M54 - Labor Management