Abstract for: A System Dynamics-based Theory on Self-Sustaining Communities of Practice

The need for organizations to build and develop certain capabilities has been studied extensively. So far, the focus is on the development of the need of organizations for capabilities rather than on their capability to sustain capabilities on their own. Some Communities of Practice maintain high-quality skill-development among their members over generations, effectively regenerating their capability to do so. This work in progress describes a research design to develop a System Dynamics based Grounded Theory on Self-Sustaining Communities of Practice. Four Dimensions are addressed: research objectives, research strategy, research methods, and research objects. This research aims to generate insights into Communities of Practice that organizations in general can leverage to design effective long-term capability-building efforts. Three fields with research objects to be investigated have been identified: Scuba Diving, Medical Vocational Training, and System Dynamics. Several common aspects of these communities have been identified. One Stakeholder cooperation - with the Scuba Diving industry - was initiated with a prototype model to demonstrate the approach. Another cooperation - with Medical Vocational Training - is being developed. At the current state of this work in progress, the research has been designed, research objects have been identified, and collaborations have been initiated. The common aspects of the research objects seem have high impact.