Critical success factors for communities of practice at Multichoice

Abstract

Despite increased academic focus on knowledge management, the creation and management of knowledge within organisations has received limited attention. Whilst a considerable body of international literature exists on the role of communities of practice in managing knowledge in organisations, the South African literature is largely silent on communities of practice as a means of managing knowledge and thus represents a gap for further research. The objective of the research is to assess which critical success factors identified in the academic literature are rated as being most relevant to members of communities of practice in a single organisational context, being Multichoice. Further, the research assesses whether critical success factors vary by type and life cycle phase of communities of practice at Multichoice. A deductive, quantitative approach within the positivist paradigm is employed. Specifically, the descriptive survey questionnaire approach is adopted. The research reveals a strong resemblance between the critical success factors identified in the literature and those rated by members of communities of practice at Multichoice. In addition, the research demonstrates that critical success factors vary – albeit marginally - with both the type, and stage in the life cycle, of communities of practice at Multichoice. All the factors identified, with the exception of two factors, are rated as `critical’ to the success of communities of practice at Multichoice. Copyright