Communities of Practice (COP) Presented by: Roan Senior Exec, DKMD

What I will cover COP definition and illustration The need for COP COP & Org performance COP characteristics Types of COP The need to cultivate COP

COP definition and illustration

The need for COP

COP & Org performance

COP characteristics

Types of COP

The need to cultivate COP

Communities of Practice (COP) A Communities of Practice (COP) is a group of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly. Illustration and Example are on next slide

A Communities of Practice (COP) is a group of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly.

Illustration and Example are on next slide

The Need for COP Teams or workgroups do not address knowledge-related problems because: Project teams are temporary, so their knowledge is largely lost when they disband. Ongoing operational teams are focused on their own tasks, so their knowledge often remains local. External source of knowledge is often impractical for staff who would put the knowledge to use.

Teams or workgroups do not address knowledge-related problems because:

Project teams are temporary, so their knowledge is largely lost when they disband.

Ongoing operational teams are focused on their own tasks, so their knowledge often remains local.

External source of knowledge is often impractical for staff who would put the knowledge to use.

COP & Organizational Performance Decreasing learning curve of new employees Responding more rapidly to customer needs and enquiries Reducing rework and preventing “reinvention of the wheel” Spawning new ideas for products and services

Decreasing learning curve of new employees

Responding more rapidly to customer needs and enquiries

Reducing rework and preventing “reinvention of the wheel”

Spawning new ideas for products and services

COP characteristics The Domain . COP has identity or shared domain interest. Membership means commitment to a certain body of knowledge. The Community . There is an ongoing interaction among members The Practice . Members develop a shared practices like common procedures, ways of tackling an issue.

The Domain . COP has identity or shared domain interest. Membership means commitment to a certain body of knowledge.

The Community . There is an ongoing interaction among members

The Practice . Members develop a shared practices like common procedures, ways of tackling an issue.

Types of COP Helping Communities provide a forum for community members to help each other with everyday work needs. Best Practice Communities develop and disseminate best practices, guidelines, and procedures for their member use. Knowledge Stewarding Communities organise, manage, and steward a body of knowledge from which community members can draw Innovation Communities create breakthrough ideas, new knowledge, and new practice

Helping Communities provide a forum for community members to help each other with everyday work needs.

Best Practice Communities develop and disseminate best practices, guidelines, and procedures for their member use.

Knowledge Stewarding Communities organise, manage, and steward a body of knowledge from which community members can draw

Innovation Communities create breakthrough ideas, new knowledge, and new practice

Things to note about COP It should be owned by groups of staff who practice the knowledge COP is informal, there is no designated leader, or assigned tasks. Depends on internal leadership. The direction / outputs of COP is determined by its members. i.e. COP can evolve 1% rule. 1% - core; 9% - active; 90% - lurkers

It should be owned by groups of staff who practice the knowledge

COP is informal, there is no designated leader, or assigned tasks. Depends on internal leadership.

The direction / outputs of COP is determined by its members. i.e. COP can evolve

1% rule. 1% - core; 9% - active; 90% - lurkers

The need to cultivate COP If COPs are not managed then: It will tend to organise based on friendship or org context. It might not develop at all, either because staff do not know each other or they do not have the time. It also difficult to channel resources (time and financial) Without intentional cultivation, the communities that do develop will depend on the spare time of members, and participation is more likely to be spotty, especially when resources are lean

If COPs are not managed then:

It will tend to organise based on friendship or org context.

It might not develop at all, either because staff do not know each other or they do not have the time.

It also difficult to channel resources (time and financial)

Our roles

We need you! We need your cooperation so that we can cultivate COP together

Q & A Thank you for listening