This work investigates a cross-organizational technology-focused Community of Practice, namely Azure for Education, which supports educational organizations as they learn and implement Microsoft Azure platform technologies to solve business challenges in an environment of rapid technology innovation and evolution. While most research on Communities of Practice has taken place within single organizations, Azure for Education enables the sharing of knowledge, experience, and best practices amongst hundreds of educational organizations across the United States and Canada, and their vendor, Microsoft. The study examines the value and benefits that participants receive as reported in questionnaires and focus group activities. Further, the study examines customer and vendor participants separately to highlight the unique motivations and benefits that each uniquely receives. The study concludes with theoretical and practical implications of the study and reveals that Communities of Practice can play a crucial role in developing knowledge amongst vendors and customers, while also building customer trust and loyalty. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]