Leadership for facilitating team communities of practice: an exploratory study

Makoto Matsuo & Motohiro Aihara

Journal of Workplace Learning2026https://doi.org/10.1108/jwl-08-2025-0270article
AJG 1ABDC C
Weight
0.50

What the paper says

Purpose This study aims to exploratorily examine leadership styles that facilitate team communities of practice (CoPs). Design/methodology/approach On the basis of a scale development approach, this study developed a three-dimensional leadership measurement scale for team CoPs using three datasets. Findings First, items were generated by qualitatively analyzing open-ended questionnaire data (n = 59) from employees who perceived their teams as CoPs. Second, exploratory factor analyses were performed using quantitative questionnaire survey data (n = 309), and three dimensions were extracted: facilitating open discussion, supporting problem-solving and promoting knowledge sharing. Third, the three-dimensional model was validated by confirmatory factor analysis using different questionnaire survey data (n = 309). The structural equation modeling results showed that only promoting knowledge sharing was directly and positively related to team CoPs, whereas facilitating open discussion and supporting problem-solving were positively related to team CoPs, mediated by promoting knowledge sharing. Originality/value Although only limited quantitative studies have investigated the effect of leadership on CoPs, this study found a structural leadership model for facilitating team CoPs. Based on these findings, the study proposed a three-step leadership model for facilitating team CoPs.

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https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1108/jwl-08-2025-0270

Or copy a formatted citation

@article{makoto2026,
  title        = {{Leadership for facilitating team communities of practice: an exploratory study}},
  author       = {Makoto Matsuo & Motohiro Aihara},
  journal      = {Journal of Workplace Learning},
  year         = {2026},
  doi          = {https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1108/jwl-08-2025-0270},
}

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Leadership for facilitating team communities of practice: an exploratory study

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Evidence weight

0.50

Balanced mode · F 0.40 / M 0.15 / V 0.05 / R 0.40

F · citation impact0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20
M · momentum0.50 × 0.15 = 0.07
V · venue signal0.50 × 0.05 = 0.03
R · text relevance †0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20

† Text relevance is estimated at 0.50 on the detail page — for your query’s actual relevance score, open this paper from a search result.