Communities of Practice

CommunitiesCommunities

Keith De La RueKeith De La Rue

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mckaysavage/

What is a community?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamescridland/

Community

• A group of people living in a particular local area • A group of people having ethnic or cultural or

religious characteristics in common• Common ownership

– (“A community of possessions”)

• Agreement as to goals– (“A community of interests”)

• The body of people in a learned occupation• From Latin: “common, public, shared by many”

http://www.onelook.com/?w=community&ls=a

http://www.flickr.com/photos/MrTopf/

Communities of Practice (CoPs)

1. Community2. Practice3. Technology(Don’t put the cart before the horse)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ell-r-brown/

Communities in organisations

CEO

Dept A Dept B Dept C

Mgr Mgr Mgr Mgr Mgr Mgr Mgr Mgr Mgr

Not a project team

CEO

Dept A Dept B Dept C

Mgr Mgr Mgr Mgr Mgr Mgr Mgr Mgr Mgr

Eng

Eng

Eng

Eng

Eng Eng

Communities in organisations

“Communities are living organisms and require gardeners, not mechanics, to provide them with leadership.”

– Fred Schoeps, KM manager, IBM

“Knowledge can only ever be volunteered; it cannot be conscripted.”

– David Snowden, Cognitive Edge

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikebaird/

Nature of a CoP

• It is a community• Not a “controlled” environment• Doesn’t have “deliverables”

– But should have community goals…

• Organic• It’s about the people• Local, regional, global

http://www.flickr.com/photos/drbeachvacation/

Purpose of a CoP?

• Common field of interests, specialisation• Sharing knowledge for mutual benefit

– Reuse good ideas– Ask questions

• Development of the individuals– Peer learning

• Development of a discipline• Solving unique problems• Innovation

http://www.flickr.com/photos/usfbps/

CoP Dynamics

Core

Active

Peripheral

CoP Dynamics

1

9

90

Needs a critical mass

Creating a community

“Trust comes on foot, but leaves on horseback.”– Johan Thorbecke

• Attempts to “control” lead to evaporation• Community needs nurturing

– Community moderator

• Leaders need passion• Invite potential participants • Regular scheduled activities

http://www.flickr.com/photos/soldiersmediacenter/

Building a community

• Rewards & Recognition?– Link to desired outcomes

• Cognitive work motivation (Dan Pink):– Autonomy– Mastery– Purpose

• Goals– Activity– Participation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6XAPnuFjJc

http://www.flickr.com/photos/vizzzual-dot-com/

Practice – group identity

• A shared common practice• “I am a …”• Not too broad or too narrow• Need to recognise affinity• Mutual understanding• Avoid redundant communities• Be able to both learn and contribute

http://anecdote.com.au/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/europedistrict/

Practice – group utility

• Relationship to day-to-day work• Community must become part of the practice• Obvious direct benefits

– WIIFM?

• Assistance with work issues• Problem solving• Professional support

http://delarue.net/blog/2008/09/practice-makes-perfect/

Technology?

• May not need any technology!• Start with people first• Starting with technology may lead to failure

– Field of Dreams does not necessarily apply

• Deprive of technology until needs expressed?• Make it as easy as possible to use• If not all face-to-face, communication first• Social Media principles apply – trust, openness

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivyfield/

Supporting member interaction – ‘SCENT’• Site: home page - information• Calendar: community events - interaction• Events: F2F, conference calls, webinars• News: newsletter or blog - comms & publicity• Threads: discussion board - virtual interaction

http://sites.google.com/site/stangarfield/home/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/misteraitch/

Blog as a community site

http://www.melbournekmlf.org/

Calendar of events

http://www.melbournekmlf.org/?page_id=84

Other tools - Wiki

Building a body of knowledge

http://knowledgebucket.wik.is/

Other tools - Microblogging

http://www.yammer.com/

Networking, awareness, chat

http://www.facebook.com/smcmelb

Measuring outcomes

• Achieving team goals and participation• Testimonials on value• Anecdotes – stories of usefulness• Solutions to business problems• Publicise outcomes widely

http://sites.google.com/site/stangarfield/home/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mwichary/

Fluor Corporation

• Construction and Project Management• 2007 Case Study• 44 global knowledge communities• Total 25,000 active members• 12,000 forum submissions• Voluntary membership• Community leaders trained• ‘Knowvember’ – Annual celebration and awards

http://www.ikmagazine.com/bookshop.asp

http://www.fluor.com/

Fluor Corporation

“We harness the company’s considerable intellectual property… to solve complexproblems other companies cannot. In today’s rapidly changing business environment, the most potent competitive weapon any company can have is skilled, dedicated people working hard to ensure its success. At Fluor, we are blessed with a community of outstanding individuals who come together to accomplish things that no one else can.”

– Alan Boeckmann, chairman and CEOhttp://www.ikmagazine.com/bookshop.asp

The theory and practice of communitieshttp://delarue.net/blog/2009/03/the-theory-and-practice-of-communities/

The communities manifesto (Stan Garfield)https://docs.google.com/View?id=ddj598qm_44fx54rbg5

Being a Successful Knowledge Leader(Arthur Shelley, Ark Group)

http://www.ikmagazine.com/bookshop.asp

The theory and practice of communitieshttp://delarue.net/blog/2009/03/the-theory-and-practice-of-communities/

The communities manifesto (Stan Garfield)https://docs.google.com/View?id=ddj598qm_44fx54rbg5

Being a Successful Knowledge Leader(Arthur Shelley, Ark Group)

http://www.ikmagazine.com/bookshop.asp @kdelarue

0418 51 7676keith@delarue.net

http://acknowledgeconsulting.com/