Communities of practice and ability to absorb knowledge in an inter-organizational context
The objective behind the present article lays in interrelating Communities of Practice to Innovation within an inter-organizational relation context (IOR), by disclosing the role of knowledge grasping capacity. It could be worded differently as in the fact that we display, within a research model, the process of positive influence by Communities of Practice upon Innovation on account of the capacity to grasp as a variable intermediate. The relational variables of trust and engagement are considered as explanatory factors of communities’ formation. To proceed, we actuated research starting up with ressources theories, dynamic capacities as well as the statement of ressources shortage and SMEs proximity management in order to exhibit a model linking up the relational variables (trust and engagement), Communities of Practice, knowledge sharing, grasping capacity and Innovation.we have tested the research hypotheses on a 110 SME sample. Data gathered were analysed by way of Structural Equation Modeling (LISREL for collateral analysis and PLS Path Modeling for hypotheses testing). The results revealed the existence of positive relationship between relational variables and notions of Communities of Practice. This relationship is reinforced by the interceding role of knowledge grasping capacity.