Theoretical frameworks for knowledge sharing in a community of practice

The aim of this study is to develop an understanding of the factors influencing participants' knowledge-sharing in communities of practice. As the need to create and manage knowledge becomes increasingly more important to organizations, understanding the factors of knowledge sharing behaviors is paramount to success. Prior studies indicate that knowledge sharing takes place at the organizational and the individual level and that the factors that influence knowledge sharing are derived from the theories of social capital and social exchange. Subsequently, this study includes an overview of four theoretical frameworks derived from the theories of social capital and social exchange with the aim of developing an integrative conceptual framework for knowledge sharing.