Building communities of practice and knowledge management at Malaysian Muslim-dominated organisations: toward a research agenda

Abstract

This research will try to highlight on Communities of Practice (CoP) and how CoP will offer a productive solution for improving knowledge and Knowledge Management (KM). The relationship between individual and social learning has received a great deal of attention from the organisation theory perspective. Based on previous literature, the social constructivist perspective challenges the traditional idea that learning takes place in individuals’ minds or in organisational systems and structures, where it starts with the assumption that learning occurs and knowledge is created mainly through conversations and interactions between people. Another interesting point that will be highlighted in this research is the exploration and understanding of the processes and dynamics of CoP (synonym with brotherhood of Muslims) in Muslim-dominated organisations. We found the dearth of empirical research into how social interaction and learning is actually created in religious community; and in addition for this research we also look upon the CoP issues from Islamic perspectives.