This thesis examines factors governing the shape of Networks of Practice among fellow
professionals in different organisations through a study of web production in UK Higher
Education. It explores the character of two cross organisational spaces, an online community
and a conference series, and then at the individual level examines the pattern and causes of
participation within these spaces. There has been little research into web production as a
professional activity, so capturing something of its rich culture of work expands our
understanding of these information professions.
Subject and genre analysis supported by observation, interview and questionnaire are the
primary methods used to study the cross organisational spaces. The individual level is
explored through qualitative interview data treated for analysis as discursive resources, as
well as containing "factual" data. The thesis uses community of practice theory as a starting
point to provide a set of dimensions, terminology and predicted character of Networks of
Practice, but also draws on themes from the theory of the professions.
Although valued sources of information and support, both the online community and
conference series have a strong technical slant and seem to exclude some important relevant
professional perspectives, particularly that of marketing. At the individual level common
information and support needs are pursued through cross organisational contacts, but the
creation of a community is limited by the diversity of individuals' roles, aspirations and
organisational location as well as differing involvement in technical innovation and different
degrees of organisational liminality and divergent organisational cultures. Gender is also an
emergent factor, revealing that the freedom opened up by lack of professionalisation also
creates forms of vulnerability. The research suggests that the degree and pattern of
participation in collective professional spaces, such as online communities, is governed by
aspects of individuals' local contexts.