This paper presents a critical review of some of the claims made for CoPs. It will address questions such as "Are CoPs really suitable for use in a business setting?" and "Can a CoP ever be truly virtual?"
In this paper, we argue that this approach is flawed and some knowledge simply cannot be captured. A method is needed which recognises that knowledge resides in people: not in machines or documents ...
Directing their discussion at a general audience, Hildreth and Kimble present 24 separately authored chapters exploring the application of the concept of "Communities of Practice" to knowledge management in business or commerce organizations.