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Communities of Practice… pathing the cowpaths

This presentation explores the concept of Communities of Practice (CoPs) and their importance in knowledge sharing, collaboration, and organizational learning. It outlines the three dimensions of CoPs and highlights the key features, benefits, and role of CoPs in increasing productivity and fostering innovation.

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Communities of Practice… pathing the cowpaths

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  1. Communities of Practice…pathing the cowpaths GTANSW Presentation Annual Conference 2007 by Martin Pluss m.pluss@staff.tara.nsw.edu.au 0402824959 http://static.flickr.com/35/70225221_e0ca739f93.jpg http://www.bahiker.com/pictures/eastbay/garin/websize/097trail.jpg

  2. Robert Scoble: http://www.flickr.com/photos/scobleizer/1072339035/

  3. “Communities of Practice” … Simply put they are “groups of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly”. Wenger

  4. The Model • A learning theory conceptualized by Jean Lave and Etienne Wenger proposing the idea that • Learning is social and comes largely from our experience of participating in daily life • A process of engagement in a 'community of practice'. 

  5. According to Wenger…CoP defines itself along 3 dimensions: • What it is about • Joint enterprise as understood and continually renegotiated by its members. • How it functions • Mutual engagement that bind members together • What capability it has produced • Shared repertoire of communal resources (routines, artefacts, vocabulary, styles, etc.) developed over time (http://www.infed.org/biblio/communities_of_practice.htm)

  6. 3 Elements • The domain • The community • The Practice Domain Community Practice

  7. Domain(Defines the issues) • Members have … • Identity defined by a shared area of interest • Commitment to domain • Shared competence

  8. Community(People who care about the domain) • Members… • Participate in joint activities & discussions • Help each other • Share information • Build relationships so that they learn from each other

  9. Practice (Shared ideas, tools, info., goals) • Members are … • Practitioners • Develop a shared repertoire of resources • Experiences • Stories • Tools • Ways of addressing recurring problems

  10. Key Features of CoPs • Communication: Managed by making connections • Shared Domain of Practice, knowledge and resources • Focus on value, mutual exchange and learning • Crosses operational, functional and organizational boundaries • Defined by people, not tasks

  11. What CoPs Do • Facilitate collaboration/communication • Develop/Identify Subject Matter Experts • Filter out incorrect information by peer groups • Capture knowledge (intellectual capital) • Prevent re-inventing the wheel by sharing knowledge and experiences • Share successful (best) practices • Decrease learning curve • Increase organizational learning

  12. Benefits of a CoPs • Access to knowledge and experience • Build relationships with those who have expertise in a particular domain • Develop best practices through discussions and sharing of ideas • Learn how others have solved problems, instead of reinventing the wheel • Keep up-to-date at the time and pace of the individual member • Develop a community spirit.

  13. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. http://www.smh.com.au/news/web/facebook-founder-stole-our-idea/2007/07/25/1185043156358.html

  14. Social Networking Sites http://mashable.com/2007/07/31/comscore-social-network-global-growth/

  15. Wenger Model http://www.anecdote.com.au/WengerModel_small.jpg

  16. C of P the next level • Cool Running Australia • EDNA • GTANSW

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