Facilitating Knowledge Integration in CoPs: The role of perception of inclusion

Abstract

To understand knowledge management activities in CoPs, I focused on the role of perception of inclusion in knowledge integration. I propose the model CoP members’ perception of inclusion, including belongingness and uniqueness, promotes knowledge integration in CoPs. Further, I also propose that CoP members’ perception of inclusion is affected by leadership behavior, especially LMX mean, To examine the effect of perception of inclusions, I took shared goals and team psychological safety as indicators of belongingness and uniqueness. The data was collected from 62 CoP teams within three firms. The analysis results revealed that LMX mean fosters CoP members’ perception of inclusion and, in turn, enhance knowledge integration in CoPs. The findings underline the importance of members’ perception of inclusion for integrating knowledge in CoPs as well as that of leaders for perception of inclusion.