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A master's thesis from Aalborg University
Book cover


The development of an online Communities of Practice for an organization for grassroots start-up development, through the application of Participatory Design.

Term

4. term

Publication year

2021

Submitted on

Abstract

This thesis seeks to identify those elements/practices salient for the success and sustainability of an online Community of Practice (CoP) by the case-study method for the build out of a grassroots, start-up development organization, Aarhus Soup, for entrepreneurs. As a means to encourage co-creation of the online CoP, the Participatory-Design method was utilized to identify those features perceived by the potential members to the CoP as most needed and desired in such an online community (OC). The case-study literature relevant to creation of OC CoPs was reviewed to determine what parameters were perceived as more or less effective in creating and sustaining an OC CoP. Through participatory design, conducted via interviews, and a workshop as derived from the data, this paper presents Aarhus Soup with a veritable menu of steps it should take, practices it should implement in order to achieve its goal of becoming a thriving online Community of Practice.