7 critical success_factors_of_co_ps #acenetc2011

7 Critical Success Factors for Developing Your eXtension Community of Practice
Presented by
Marissa Stone, Auburn University marissa.stone@gmail.com
Jerri Caldwell, Auburn University caldwjl@auburn.edu
ACE/NETC Ver. 2.011, Denver Colorado

Coming together is a beginning.Keeping together is progress.Working together is success. - Henry Ford

What is a Community of Practice?
According to Etienne Wenger [www.ewenger.com]: Communities of practice (CoPs) are groups of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do. Through the CoP they interact regularly learning how to do it better.
Three Crucial Characteristics of CoPs:
The Domain (subject): an identity defined by a shared domain of interest. Membership implies a commitment to this domain.
The Community (people): In pursuing their interest in their domain, members engage in joint activities and discussions, help each other, and share information.
The Practice (action): Members of a community of practice are practitioners. They develop a shared repertoire of resources: experiences, stories, tools, ways of addressing recurring problems—in short a shared practice. This takes time and sustained interaction.

Supporting Syndication and Mobile Interaction

Assessing the Expertise in Membership

Assessing the Expertise in Membership
Becausea CoP is a group of people with a full set of complementary skills-a shared repertoire of resources- in order to fully utilize those resources we need to know what they are!
How? Ask!
Methods of Surveying
F2F meetings- ASK!
Observations
Committee/subcommittee positions
Member surveys
Conference calls
Webinars/trainings
Internal database
http://fcs.uga.edu/ext/jitp/register.php

Identifying Knowledge and Skills

Community of Practice Challenge
Please choose a jelly bean that represents your favorite color
(NOT YOUR FAVORITE FLAVOR).

Community of Practice Colors

Knowing Your Community of Practice
Get to know your members- read research, profiles, websites, CVs
Study the results from the CoP skills evaluations conducted
Actively participate in CoP meetings- maintain contact by scheduling regular CoP teleconferences- talk to members- ask for referrals
Attend CoP F2F meetings at national conferences
Help develop and support CoP committees and subcommittees
Respond to/solicit invitations to provide feedback on tasks
When things work celebrate!-make sure that everyone knows!
Volunteer to help other CoP members often
Develop/attend CoP webinars/trainings

Utilizing Diversity in Your Community of Practice
Develop mechanisms for the identification of various cultural dimensions of your CoP members (organizational, professional, disciplinary and nationalities)
Use social networking opportunities to facilitate communication, networking and collaboration among users outside the workings of the CoP
Allow all members to have a voice during meetings on projects they choose

Fostering Connectivity in Your Community of Practice
According to Malcolm Gladwell author of The Tipping Point How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference (2000)
Connectors play a vital role in groups
Connectors know LOTS of people.
Connectors develop networks regularly and often unconsciously, and use their connections to put people together, to touch lives, so to speak.
Connectors are important because they bring new ideas into the group.
Connectors keep groups from becoming inbred

Updating and Informing the Community of Practice
Keep CoP members involved through regular updates
Create a CoP listserv in eXtension- send monthly updates on progress, goals, projects, celebrate accomplishments, share CoP news.
Social media applications such as blogs, wikis, photo, audio and video files, digital storytelling, podcasts, and 3D virtual worlds support collaborative online/ social spaces where members can connect.
Create a CoP online presence- not just a website- to deliver info where members are in cyberspace.

Creating a Call to Action
Be clear on outcomes- what do you want to accomplish?
Approach all actions as a mediated whole- each action builds on others- this helps people feel part of something- responsible for their part
Establish an expectation for accomplishment- hold people accountable- ask how things are coming along or if they need help
Encourage members- ask for their assistance and/or offer feedback
Be relentless about the timeline/schedule
Promote interaction/working w/other CoPmembers
Have a clear, concise call to action- what do people need to do specifically?

7 Tips to Engaging the Community of Practice
We have a CoP- how do we get everyone involved?
Collect more data on members than eXtension allows
Get to know your experts
Utilize the diversity in your CoP
Identify your connectors
Create a “call to action” that supports & mobilizes members
Share, update and inform
Manage and maintain your CoP membership.

Community of Practice Membership
A successful CoP is only as good as the membership it attracts:
Establish a membership protocol- how will new members be recruited, accepted, retained?
Welcome new members personally
Provide mentors
Choose a membership “go-to” guru
Offer support and assistance
Early support leads to long-term member retention

7 Tips to Engaging the Community of Practice
According to Pat Gannon-Leary, author of Communities of Practice and Virtual Learning Communities: Benefits, Barriers and Success Factors (2007)
CoP Critical success factors (CSFs)
Usability of technology listserv, forums, and other web technology
Trust- built through continued interaction developing common values and shared understanding
A sense of belonging among members
Paying attention to cross-national and cross-cultural dimensions of the CoP
Shared understandings
A common sense of purpose
Use of netiquette, user-friendly language

Your Community of Practice
Launching and supporting a successful community of practice is one of the most effective ways to sustain your investment in knowledge generated.
It takes thought and effort, but with the right people, and the right steps your group can move from a “notwork” to a very successful network.

Questions?
Interaction
Syndication
Challenge
Communication
Survey
Assessment
Call to Action
Identify
Membership
Participation
Your Community
Domain
Engaging
Community

7 critical success_factors_of_co_ps #acenetc2011

by Marissa Stone

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