While most research on communities of practice began at the concept level and focused on case studies in small-sized units, the suggestions garnered from these case studies have proven ill equipped to provide detailed directions on how to use these communities of practice to develop the expertise of employees in the actual work field through the sharing and creation of knowledge. Furthermore, no factors necessary for the establishment and invigoration of communities of practices were suggested using this method. This paper was aimed at supporting and developing the expertise of employees in organizations by sharing and creating knowledge. Moreover, this paper attempted to understand the present state, as well as the accomplishments, of communities of practice in order to establish and invigorate their future activities. In addition, this paper attempted to identify the supporting factors, obstacles, as well as the future tasks associated with the construction of communities of practice. To attain the objectives of this research, this paper first defined the term communities of practice, and selected the direction and range of the research through consultations with related specialists. By analyzing previous research and theories related to communities of practice, this paper was able to present a proper definition of the term, factors supporting the creation of such communities, potential obstacles, as well as their accomplishments to date and future tasks. In addition, quantitative research in the form of a survey, and the observations of those responsible for the establishment of communities of practice within organizations, were used.
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