Communities of practice in innovation management: sensemaking challenges to mobile organisations

Abstract

This research article explores the social issues of subjectivity in innovation management, by discussing the significance that communities' symbolic interpretation has on their sensemaking and engagement in informal innovation communities. This article presents our research findings which suggest the positive contribution that cognitive mapping of communities' sensemaking can have an aid to understand the relationships between the symbolic interpretation of organisational events, and innovative outcomes, and the functional community members' engagement with an informal innovation community. The article concludes by discussing the implications for future innovation management in these mobile organisations.