© 2006, Etienne Wenger
The art of learning togetherThe art of learning together
Etienne Wenger Learning for a small planet P.O. Box 810 North San Juan, CA 95960, U.S.A. Phone (530) 292-9222 E-mail [email protected] Website: www.ewenger.com
© 2006, Etienne Wenger
… … a group of practitioners, whoa group of practitioners, who
share similar challengesshare similar challenges
interact regularlyinteract regularly
learn from and with each otherlearn from and with each other
improve their ability to address their improve their ability to address their
challengeschallenges
© 2006, Etienne Wenger
From support to practiceFrom support to practice
Gaining a voice in research and policyGaining a voice in research and policy
practice and voice practice and voice
© 2006, Etienne Wenger
To help each solve problemsTo help each solve problems
To hear each other’s stories and avoid To hear each other’s stories and avoid local blindnesslocal blindness
To keep up with changeTo keep up with change
To reflect on their practice and improve itTo reflect on their practice and improve it
To push the boundaries of their fieldTo push the boundaries of their field
To find a voice and gain influenceTo find a voice and gain influence
© 2006, Etienne Wenger
Quantitative biologists develop a community of practice after an acquisition.They create a common identity, build trust, and develop a shared practice.
They learn to collaborate, avoid repeated tests, pool supply purchases, share equipment--saving frustration, time and money.
© 2006, Etienne Wenger
Key dimensionsKey dimensions
PracticePracticeCommunityCommunity
DomainDomain
ParticipationParticipationParticipationParticipation
SponsorshipSponsorshipSponsorshipSponsorship
NurturingNurturingNurturingNurturing
SupportSupportSupportSupport
LearningLearningtogethertogetherLearningLearningtogethertogether
© 2006, Etienne Wenger
At DaimlerChrysler, Tech Clubs cut across formal structures:
At DaimlerChrysler, Tech Clubs cut across formal structures:
They provide the connections that keep the platforms from diverging into islands.
They provide the connections that keep the platforms from diverging into islands.
Large cars
Trucks
Small cars
Minivans
Jeeps
Ad
vanced
Veh
icle En
gineerin
g
Ch
assis
Veh
icle develop
men
t
Interior
Pow
ertrain
Electrical/E
lectronics
Scien
tific Lab
s and
testing grou
nd
s
Bod
y
© 2006, Etienne Wenger
… two complementary paths to the same vision
CoP
Just when CoPs need a more strategic focus …
Just when the organization focuses on knowledge …
Rio Tinto is designing a new service organisation to focus on excellence in strategic domains
We already have a set of functioning communities of practice in key domains: informal infrastructure
-> some passionate coordinators
© 2006, Etienne Wenger
Australian Australian Security and Investment CommissionSecurity and Investment Commission
Australian Australian Security and Investment CommissionSecurity and Investment Commission
Seven directoratesSeven directoratesSeven directoratesSeven directorates
Seventeen communities of Seventeen communities of practicepractice
Seventeen communities of Seventeen communities of practicepractice
Execu
tive
Execu
tive
Execu
tive
Execu
tive
Op
era
tion
s
Op
era
tion
s
Op
era
tion
s
Op
era
tion
s
Com
plia
nc
Com
plia
nc
e
e
Com
plia
nc
Com
plia
nc
e
e
Con
su
mer
Con
su
mer
pro
tectio
n
pro
tectio
n
Con
su
mer
Con
su
mer
pro
tectio
n
pro
tectio
n
En
forc
em
eEn
forc
em
en
t n
t En
forc
em
eEn
forc
em
en
t n
t
Fin
an
ce
Fin
an
ce
Fin
an
ce
Fin
an
ce
Reg
ula
tion
Reg
ula
tion
s
s
Reg
ula
tion
Reg
ula
tion
s
s
DerivativesDerivativesDerivativesDerivativesInsuranceInsuranceInsuranceInsurance
InvestigatioInvestigationsns
InvestigatioInvestigationsns
InsolvencyInsolvencyInsolvencyInsolvency
LeadershipLeadershipLeadershipLeadership
Change Change managememanageme
ntnt
Change Change managememanageme
ntntInformationInformation managememanageme
ntnt
InformationInformation managememanageme
ntntASIC ASIC
graduatesgraduatesASIC ASIC
graduatesgraduates
Financial Financial instrument instrument managememanageme
ntnt
Financial Financial instrument instrument managememanageme
ntnt
© 2006, Etienne Wenger
Municipal cultural planningMunicipal cultural planning
OntarioOntario
leading municipalities leading municipalities
provincial provincial service service
organizationsorganizationsNGOsNGOs
government government departments departments
and agencies and agencies
downtown revitalizationdowntown revitalization
cultural tourismcultural tourism
heritage site preservation heritage site preservation
economic development economic development in local culturein local culture
© 2006, Etienne Wenger
Key dimensionsKey dimensions
PracticePracticeCommunityCommunity
DomainDomain
ParticipationParticipationParticipationParticipation
SponsorshipSponsorshipSponsorshipSponsorship
NurturingNurturingNurturingNurturing
SupportSupportSupportSupport
LearningLearningtogethertogetherLearningLearningtogethertogether
© 2006, Etienne Wenger
Each other
Advice Informal
Formal
WithFrom
Outsidesources
Models of practice
Projectreviews
Case clinics
Document sharing
Tool/asset developmen
t
Learningprojects
Hot topicdiscussions
Stories
Localpracticetransfer
VisitsInvited
speaker
Mutual benchmark
External benchmark
Specialized workshops
Broadcast inquiry
Readinggroup
Mentoring
Problem solving
News
Practice fair
Sharedresponse
Learningcollaboration
Trainingsessions
Pointers to resources
Distributedscan
GuestJoint
eventsDocumenting
practice
Expedition
Debatingsolutions
© 2006, Etienne Wenger
occasional
transactional
peripheral
active
coordinator
core group
lurkers
leaders
sponsors
experts
beginners
alumni
outsiders
© 2006, Etienne Wenger
Communities of practice are key to the strategy of becoming the knowledge bank.
Communities of practice are key to the strategy of becoming the knowledge bank.
Communities of practice are key to the strategy of becoming the “knowledge bank.”
More than 80 “thematic groups” cut acrossregions andsectors.
Now some communitiesare taking a strategic lead, applying the principles beyond the bank, to organize knowledge among client countries.
© 2006, Etienne Wenger
Negotiation of
mutual relevance
Negotiation of
mutual relevance
ProviderProvider
RecipientRecipient
© 2006, Etienne Wenger
For more information,go to
www.ewenger.comEtienne Wenger Learning for a small planet P.O. Box 810 North San Juan, CA 95960, U.S.A. Phone (530) 292-9222 E-mail [email protected] Website: www.ewenger.com
© 2006, Etienne Wenger
IssueIssue
IssueIssue IssueIssue
What are we about?What are we about?
IssueIssue
domaindomain
issuesissues fluid fluid participationparticipation
enduringenduringcommitmentcommitment
connectionsconnections
bigbigpicturepicture
IssueIssue focusfocus
© 2006, Etienne Wenger
for our issuefor our issue What are the key questions associated with this What are the key questions associated with this
issue?issue? What kind of knowledge do we need to share to What kind of knowledge do we need to share to
address these questions?address these questions? What knowledge do we have? What knowledge do we not have? Where could we find it?
Who needs to be involved?Who needs to be involved? Everyone? Subgroup? Others?
What kind of activities would help us make What kind of activities would help us make progress in practice?progress in practice?
© 2006, Etienne Wenger
On a scale of 0 to 4 On a scale of 0 to 4
Community activities
oriented to …
… general ftf meetings
… visits
… specialized ftf workshops
… input from experts
… project teams
… open-ended conversation
… content publishing
… training sessions
… regular videoconferences
© 2006 Wenger
© 2006, Etienne Wenger
Indicators of successIndicators of success
Where do we see ourselves …Where do we see ourselves …
… … in 6 monthsin 6 months
… … in 12 monthsin 12 months
… … in 24 monthsin 24 months
© 2006, Etienne Wenger
Who is going to do what ?Who is going to do what ?
By when?By when?
What resources are needed?What resources are needed?
© 2006, Etienne Wenger
on our workshopon our workshop
What did I expect?What did I expect?
What happened?What happened?
What did I learn? What did I learn?
What are my hopes now?What are my hopes now?
© 2006, Etienne Wenger
For more information,go to
www.ewenger.comEtienne Wenger Learning for a small planet P.O. Box 810 North San Juan, CA 95960, U.S.A. Phone (530) 292-9222 E-mail [email protected] Website: www.ewenger.com