Knowledge-Sharing and Potential Virtual Communities of Practice in the U.S. Coast Guard’s Afloat Community: a Qualitative Pilot Study

摘要: Virtual communities of Practice (VCoP) offer a flexible option for professional development that may be employed by geographically dispersed communities. Due to unique and dynamic operational demands reduced training budget, the United States Coast Guard’s (USCG) afloat community has limited opportunity formal development, but alternative learning options have yet formally researched. This qualitative pilot study purposeful sampling conduct 6 one-on-one interviews members with varying degrees experience total time in service. The were used elucidate knowledge-sharing culture community, including degree which are willing exchange knowledge how trust, reciprocity, disposition towards online influence this exchange. Interviews digitally recorded manually transcribed. Emergent themes included willingness desire share knowledge, concerns regarding service reputation, provisions anonymity, altruistic information