| Peer-Reviewed

Assessment of the Role of Community of Practice on Performance: A Case of Public Service in Makueni County Government, Kenya

Received: 11 November 2019     Accepted: 11 December 2019     Published: 9 January 2020
Views:       Downloads:
Abstract

The intense competition and change which occurs on a continuous and disruptive basis in the business environment requires organizations both private and public to enhance their performance at all times to survive. Successful utilization of firm knowledge through effective capturing, creation, sharing and transferring can improve the firm’s effectiveness which in turn enhances the performance of the firm. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of community of practice on the performance of public service board in Makueni County, Kenya. This study made use of descriptive research design. The target population of this study was the employees of Makueni County government. Stratified sampling method was used to sample respondents so as to make sure that all the categories of the respondents are well represented. Simple random sampling method was used to select the respondents. The sample size for this study was 98 respondents. The 98 respondents were selected from all the 30 wards in Makunei County. The research data was collected using semi-structured questionnaires. Quantitative data gathered from closed-ended questions was analyzed using measures of central tendency and dispersion. Qualitative data gathered using open-ended questions was analyzed using content analysis. Presentation of findings was done using tables and charts. Multiple regression analysis was used to show the extent to which variables relate to each other. The study established that community of practice had a positive and significant relationship on organizational performance. The study concludes that community of practice helps in to learning and supporting one another in order to create, spread, retain, and use knowledge relevant to the organization. These networks are fostered and established in order to build strategic capabilities within the organization by leveraging learning and knowledge sharing. Communities of practice have the potential to improve organizational performance and, thereby, contribute to the reinforcement of an organization’s long-term strategic advantages. The study also concludes that community of practice gives an organization access to knowledge and expertise that they would not easily gain on their own. This builds their confidence, enhances their quality of work, promotes personal development, and makes their work even more meaningful. The study recommends that management on the County government of Makueni should actively facilitate community work by providing required resources and by establishing necessary prerequisites in the organization. Design a structure that allows for variations in culture, language, organization, and work without sacrificing the development of trust and connection among diverse community members.

Published in Journal of Human Resource Management (Volume 8, Issue 1)
DOI 10.11648/j.jhrm.20200801.12
Page(s) 11-15
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Community of Practice, Organizational Performance, Public Service

References
[1] Alevi, M. & Leidner, D. E. (2001). Review knowledge management and knowledge managements systems. MIS Quarterly, 25 (1), 107–136.
[2] Cai, W., & Klyushina, U. (2009). Talent retention and development within multinational company in China.
[3] Corso, M., & Giacobbe, A. (2015). Building Communities of Practice that work: a case study based research. In The Sixth European Conference on Organizational Knowledge, Learning, and Capabilities, 4 (2), 17-19.
[4] Finne, H., Day, A. Piccaluga, A. Spithoven, A. Walter, P. &Wellen, D. (2011). A Composite Indicator for Knowledge Transfer Report from the European Commission’s Expert Group on Knowledge Transfer Indicators.
[5] Grant, R. M. (1996). Towards knowledge based theory of the firm. Strategic Management [Journal, (17), winter special issue. 109–122].
[6] Gray, K. (2011). The Ontario leadership framework 2012. With a Discussion of the Research. Foundations, 47 (7), 45-67.
[7] Gunasekaran, A., & Kobu, B. (2007). Performance measures and metrics in logistics and supply chain management: a review of recent literature (1995–2004) for research and applications. International journal of production research, 45 (12), 2819-2840.
[8] Kietzmann, J., Plangger, K. Eaton, B. Heilgenberg, K. Pitt, L. Berthon, P. (2013). Mobility at work: A typology of mobile communities of practice and contextual ambidexterity (PDF). Journal of Strategic Information Systems. 3 (4): 282–297.
[9] Koo. C., Ryoo, S. Wati, Y. & Suh. Woojong (2009). Communities of Practice and Its Effects on Firm Performance: A Process-Oriented Study. KES-AMSTA International Symposium on Agent and Multi-Agent Systems: Technologies and Applications, 471-480.
[10] Lave, J., & Wenger, E. (1991). Situated Learning: Legitimate Peripheral Participation. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
[11] Lesser, E. L. & Storck, J. (2001). Communities of practice and organizational performance. IBM Systems Journal, 40 (4).
[12] Lesser, E. L., & Storck, J. (2015). Communities of practice and organizational performance. IBM systems journal, 40 (4), 831-841.
[13] Martínez, E. C., Gallart, J. M. & Penuela, J. O. (2012). Knowledge transfer in the social sciences and the humanities in public research organizations in Valencia. Working Paper Nº 2010/12.
[14] Ngah, R., & Ibrahim, A. R. (2010). The effect of knowledge sharing on organizational performance in small and medium enterprises.
[15] Penrose, E. (1959). The Theory of the Growth of the Firm, Oxford University Press, Oxford.
[16] Sanchez-Cardona, I., Sanchez-Lugo, J., & Vzlez-González, J. (2012). Exploring the potential of communities of practice for learning and collaboration in a higher education context. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 46, 1820-1825.
[17] Schenkel, A., &T eigland, R. (2018). Improved organizational performance through communities of practice. Journal of knowledge management, 12 (1), 106-118.
[18] Selvam, M., Gayathri, J., Vasanth, V., Lingaraja, K., & Marxiaoli, S. (2016). Determinants of firm performance: A Subjective Model. International Journal of SocialScience Studies, 4 (2), 90–106.
[19] Gudda, P., Bwisa, H. & Kihoro, J (2014). “Effect of Clustering on Product Innovativeness among Small and Medium Enterprises (SMES) in Kisumu County, Kenya. Journal of Marketing & Technology, 4 (1), 35-49.
[20] Sigel, K., Hagemann, N. Leidel, M. &Niemann, S. (2014). Insights regarding transdisciplinary and knowledge transfer gained from two case studies on integrated water resources management in Ukraine and Mongolia. Problem oriented projects and strategic research programs, 39 (4), 342–359.
[21] Teece, D. J. (2004). Royalties, evolving patent rights, and the value of innovation. Research Policy, 33 (2), 179-191.
[22] Wawira, I. R. (2013). Strategic knowledge transfer as a source of competitiveness at Kenya power. An unpublished project of the University of Nairobi.
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Justus Kaminda Kisilu, Godfrey Kinyua. (2020). Assessment of the Role of Community of Practice on Performance: A Case of Public Service in Makueni County Government, Kenya. Journal of Human Resource Management, 8(1), 11-15. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jhrm.20200801.12

    Copy | Download

    ACS Style

    Justus Kaminda Kisilu; Godfrey Kinyua. Assessment of the Role of Community of Practice on Performance: A Case of Public Service in Makueni County Government, Kenya. J. Hum. Resour. Manag. 2020, 8(1), 11-15. doi: 10.11648/j.jhrm.20200801.12

    Copy | Download

    AMA Style

    Justus Kaminda Kisilu, Godfrey Kinyua. Assessment of the Role of Community of Practice on Performance: A Case of Public Service in Makueni County Government, Kenya. J Hum Resour Manag. 2020;8(1):11-15. doi: 10.11648/j.jhrm.20200801.12

    Copy | Download

  • @article{10.11648/j.jhrm.20200801.12,
      author = {Justus Kaminda Kisilu and Godfrey Kinyua},
      title = {Assessment of the Role of Community of Practice on Performance: A Case of Public Service in Makueni County Government, Kenya},
      journal = {Journal of Human Resource Management},
      volume = {8},
      number = {1},
      pages = {11-15},
      doi = {10.11648/j.jhrm.20200801.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jhrm.20200801.12},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jhrm.20200801.12},
      abstract = {The intense competition and change which occurs on a continuous and disruptive basis in the business environment requires organizations both private and public to enhance their performance at all times to survive. Successful utilization of firm knowledge through effective capturing, creation, sharing and transferring can improve the firm’s effectiveness which in turn enhances the performance of the firm. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of community of practice on the performance of public service board in Makueni County, Kenya. This study made use of descriptive research design. The target population of this study was the employees of Makueni County government. Stratified sampling method was used to sample respondents so as to make sure that all the categories of the respondents are well represented. Simple random sampling method was used to select the respondents. The sample size for this study was 98 respondents. The 98 respondents were selected from all the 30 wards in Makunei County. The research data was collected using semi-structured questionnaires. Quantitative data gathered from closed-ended questions was analyzed using measures of central tendency and dispersion. Qualitative data gathered using open-ended questions was analyzed using content analysis. Presentation of findings was done using tables and charts. Multiple regression analysis was used to show the extent to which variables relate to each other. The study established that community of practice had a positive and significant relationship on organizational performance. The study concludes that community of practice helps in to learning and supporting one another in order to create, spread, retain, and use knowledge relevant to the organization. These networks are fostered and established in order to build strategic capabilities within the organization by leveraging learning and knowledge sharing. Communities of practice have the potential to improve organizational performance and, thereby, contribute to the reinforcement of an organization’s long-term strategic advantages. The study also concludes that community of practice gives an organization access to knowledge and expertise that they would not easily gain on their own. This builds their confidence, enhances their quality of work, promotes personal development, and makes their work even more meaningful. The study recommends that management on the County government of Makueni should actively facilitate community work by providing required resources and by establishing necessary prerequisites in the organization. Design a structure that allows for variations in culture, language, organization, and work without sacrificing the development of trust and connection among diverse community members.},
     year = {2020}
    }
    

    Copy | Download

  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Assessment of the Role of Community of Practice on Performance: A Case of Public Service in Makueni County Government, Kenya
    AU  - Justus Kaminda Kisilu
    AU  - Godfrey Kinyua
    Y1  - 2020/01/09
    PY  - 2020
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jhrm.20200801.12
    DO  - 10.11648/j.jhrm.20200801.12
    T2  - Journal of Human Resource Management
    JF  - Journal of Human Resource Management
    JO  - Journal of Human Resource Management
    SP  - 11
    EP  - 15
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2331-0715
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jhrm.20200801.12
    AB  - The intense competition and change which occurs on a continuous and disruptive basis in the business environment requires organizations both private and public to enhance their performance at all times to survive. Successful utilization of firm knowledge through effective capturing, creation, sharing and transferring can improve the firm’s effectiveness which in turn enhances the performance of the firm. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of community of practice on the performance of public service board in Makueni County, Kenya. This study made use of descriptive research design. The target population of this study was the employees of Makueni County government. Stratified sampling method was used to sample respondents so as to make sure that all the categories of the respondents are well represented. Simple random sampling method was used to select the respondents. The sample size for this study was 98 respondents. The 98 respondents were selected from all the 30 wards in Makunei County. The research data was collected using semi-structured questionnaires. Quantitative data gathered from closed-ended questions was analyzed using measures of central tendency and dispersion. Qualitative data gathered using open-ended questions was analyzed using content analysis. Presentation of findings was done using tables and charts. Multiple regression analysis was used to show the extent to which variables relate to each other. The study established that community of practice had a positive and significant relationship on organizational performance. The study concludes that community of practice helps in to learning and supporting one another in order to create, spread, retain, and use knowledge relevant to the organization. These networks are fostered and established in order to build strategic capabilities within the organization by leveraging learning and knowledge sharing. Communities of practice have the potential to improve organizational performance and, thereby, contribute to the reinforcement of an organization’s long-term strategic advantages. The study also concludes that community of practice gives an organization access to knowledge and expertise that they would not easily gain on their own. This builds their confidence, enhances their quality of work, promotes personal development, and makes their work even more meaningful. The study recommends that management on the County government of Makueni should actively facilitate community work by providing required resources and by establishing necessary prerequisites in the organization. Design a structure that allows for variations in culture, language, organization, and work without sacrificing the development of trust and connection among diverse community members.
    VL  - 8
    IS  - 1
    ER  - 

    Copy | Download

Author Information
  • Department of Business Administration, School of Business, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya

  • Department of Business Administration, School of Business, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya

  • Sections