TY - JOUR
T1 - Digital transformation in tourism: Modes for continuing professional development in a virtual community of practice
AU - Marx, Susanne
AU - Flynn, Sandra
AU - Kylänen, Mika
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Authors
PY - 2021/12
Y1 - 2021/12
N2 - Continuing professional development (CPD) is a key challenge in enabling digital transformation in the tourism sector, and its networked service provided by small and medium-sized enterprises. Communities of Practice mirror this network approach towards learning, facilitated digitally as a Virtual Community of Practice (VCoP). This research examines how an inter-organisational VCoP on digital transformation in tourism could be delivered. Following a survey strategy (n = 244), the study demonstrates that both individual interests and organisational challenges define the shared domain of interest and constitute the motivational factors for joining a VCoP. We identify four roles of engagement: knowledge provider, practitioner, facilitator, and learner, appreciating both self-paced learning and peer interaction facilitated by multiple digital tools. The organisational type as an exemplary characteristic of members correlates with various VCoP elements. An open member structure results in volatile requirements of the VCoP, why we finally discuss agile project management methodology for VCoP delivery.
AB - Continuing professional development (CPD) is a key challenge in enabling digital transformation in the tourism sector, and its networked service provided by small and medium-sized enterprises. Communities of Practice mirror this network approach towards learning, facilitated digitally as a Virtual Community of Practice (VCoP). This research examines how an inter-organisational VCoP on digital transformation in tourism could be delivered. Following a survey strategy (n = 244), the study demonstrates that both individual interests and organisational challenges define the shared domain of interest and constitute the motivational factors for joining a VCoP. We identify four roles of engagement: knowledge provider, practitioner, facilitator, and learner, appreciating both self-paced learning and peer interaction facilitated by multiple digital tools. The organisational type as an exemplary characteristic of members correlates with various VCoP elements. An open member structure results in volatile requirements of the VCoP, why we finally discuss agile project management methodology for VCoP delivery.
KW - Continuing professional development
KW - Virtual community of practice
KW - Digital transformation
KW - Tourism
KW - Networked learning
UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plas.2021.100034
U2 - 10.1016/j.plas.2021.100034
DO - 10.1016/j.plas.2021.100034
M3 - Article
VL - 2
JO - Project Leadership and Society
JF - Project Leadership and Society
M1 - 100034
ER -