From action to reflexive collaboration in practice communities

Abstract

The reflexivity which occurs during learning processes within communities of practice constitutes the focus of this article. More specifically, the goal is to describe refl exivity’s role in environments embedded in social relations connected to a practice. At the theoretical level, a socio-practical perspective of organizational learning is adopted. At the methodological level, a study of four cases was carried out in higher education organizations. The empirical study is based upon semi-structured interviews and systematic observation. The results allow us to develop the concept of refl ective collaboration, discussing its importance in promoting innovative ideas about a practice, intensifying, consequently, learning and the generation of new knowledge.