Tutorial. 7. Communities of Practice

K.T. Lam

Informations

• Publié par: Ella
• Nombre de lectures: 11
• Langue: English

Extrait

7. Communities of Practice

ETL525 Knowledge Management Tutorial Three

19 December 2008

K.T. Lam [e-mail]

Last updated: 17 December 2008

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Learning Organizations

Organizations where people continually expand their capacity to create the results they truly desire , where new and expansive patterns of thinking are nurtured, where collective aspiration is set free, and where people are continually learning how to learn together. (Senge 1990)

Source: Senge (1990)

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Learning Organizations (cont.)

Any type of organization can be a learning organization. Characteristics: – Provide continuous learning opportunities – Use learning to reach their goals – Link individual performance with organizational performance – Foster inquiry and dialogue, making it safe for people to share openly and take risks – Embrace creative tension as a source of energy and renewal – Continuously aware of and interact with their environment

Source: Kerka (1995)

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Learning Organizations (cont.)

The concepts of the learning organization (LO) and knowledge management (KM) can be considered as two sides of the same coin.

– KM practices are key enablers and essential tools for a LO. – KM is the essential activity within the context of the LO.

Source:Al-Hawamdeh (2003)

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What is CoPs?

Communities of Practices are groups of people who share a concern , a set of problems , a passion about a topic , and who deepen their knowledge and expertise in this area by interacting on an ongoing basis. (p.4) Examples of CoPs: – Engineers group together to compare and discuss designs. – Soccer moms and dads take advantage of game times to share tips and insight about the subtle art of parenting. – Artists congregate in cafes and studios to debate the merits of a new style or technique. – Gang members learn to survive on the street and deal with an unfriendly world.

Source:Wenger, McDermott & Snyder (2002)

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What is CoPs? (cont.)

As people in the group spent time together, they: – Share information, insight and advice; – Help each other solve problems; – Discuss their situations, aspirations, and needs; – Ponder common issues, explore ideas; – Create tools, standards, generic designs, manuals, etc. – or develop a tacit understanding that they share; – Accumulate knowledge and become informally bound by the value that they find in learning together; – Develop a unique perspective on their topic and a body of common knowledge, practices, and approaches; – Develop personal relationships and established ways of interacting.

Source:Wenger, McDermott & Snyder (2002)

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Features of CoPs

CoP is formed by the group members , not by management. Members of CoP share a common language , thus facilitating sharing of knowledge.They also acquire new terminology , as part of the knowledge acquisition process. Leadership of the CoP and the support by the management of the organization are the two key elements for its success.

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Benefits of CoPs to Organizations

Cultivating CoPs in strategic areas is a practical way to manage knowledge as an asset , just as systematically as companies manage other critical assets. CoP connect people from different organizations as well as across independent business units… Success in global markets depends on communities sharing knowledge across the globe. Finding shows that employees belonging to world-class communities of practice exploring cutting-edge issues are much more likely to stick around . CoPs make knowledge an integral part of their activities and they serve as a living repository for that knowledge .

Source:Wenger, McDermott & Snyder (2002)

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Benefits of CoPs to Organizations (cont.)

CoPs are in the best position to codify knowledge , because they can combine its tacit and explicit aspects. To appreciate the collective nature of knowledge , the best communities welcome strong personalities and encourage disagreements and debates,. Controversy is part of what makes a community vital, effective, and productive. CoPs establish common baseline of knowledge in a field and standardize what is well understood so that people can focus their creative energies on the more advanced issues. CoPs are ideal social structure for “ stewarding ” knowledge.

Source:Wenger, McDermott & Snyder (2002)

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CoPs and other structures

Purpose of: – CoPs – to create, expand and exchange knowledge, and to develop individual capabilities. – Formal departments – to deliver a product or service. – Operational teams – to take care of an ongoing operation or process. – Project teams – to accomplish a specified task. – Communities of interest – to be informed. – Informal networks – to receive and pass on information, to know who is who.

Source:Wenger, McDermott & Snyder (2002b)

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How do CoPs communicate?

Communicating in a variety of ways: – Face-to-face meetings – Email discussion lists – Video conferencing – Chat rooms – Blogs – Web sites – News feeds Or a combination of the above.