1. ¹Department of Marketing and Management, Helsinki School of Economics, Helsinki, Finland
2. ²Laurea University of Applied Sciences, Porvoo, Finland

Correspondence: A. Jyrämä, Helsinki School of Economics, P.O. Box 1210, Helsinki 00101, Finland. Tel: +358 9 4313 8585; Fax: +358 9 4313 8660; E-mail: annukka.jyrama@hse.fi

Received 17 October 2005.

Abstract

This study elaborates the roles of mediators especially as enablers in knowledge creation. These roles are studied in the context of the TARU EU EQUAL training programme, aimed at helping marginal artists to enter the professional community of artists. The results indicate that the mediator roles identified from literature can be adapted to learning. However, they do not include the role of a mediator as enabling identity building, which is important in the learning context. Moreover, the mediating tasks occurring within communities merit more attention. In addition, the analysis revealed that the mediators' understandings of learning differed from those of the participants, which affected the activities and mediator roles. The use of ba and communities of practice as tools of knowing when analysing the mediator roles proved beneficial as they revealed different aspects and brought forth various ways to enable learning.