naam where have our alumni gone? exploring the new boundaries of alumni relations Joe Laufer, MSc BA HR Management Programme

Presentation outline Introduction Alumni networks – definitions Community of Practice (CoP) CoP framework & alumni networks

Introduction

Alumni networks – definitions

Community of Practice (CoP)

CoP framework & alumni networks

Corporate Alumni Networks Maintaining a relationship with former employees via a network. Used in a variety of ways including: recruiting, open innovation, new clients. Lack of best practices and policies. Lessons can be learned from university alumni networks.

Maintaining a relationship with former employees via a network.

Used in a variety of ways including: recruiting, open innovation, new clients.

Lack of best practices and policies.

Lessons can be learned from university alumni networks.

What is an alumni network? Traditionally defined as the relationship between alumni and an organization. Views alumni networks as a black box. Structured versus unstructured

Traditionally defined as the relationship between alumni and an organization.

Views alumni networks as a black box.

Structured versus unstructured

The Alumni Network Triangle Resources Information Capacity Legitimacy University Alumni Audience

The Alumni Network Triangles University Alumni audience owners Resources Information Capacity Legitimacy

Network Theory Perspective tie bridge node actor

Not just nodes, ties, and bridges Relationships Communities Growth Identity Participation

Relationships

Communities

Growth

Identity

Participation

Communities of Practice (CoP) “ a group of people sharing a concern, a set of problems, or a passion about a topic, and who deepen their knowledge and expertise through interaction” Boundaries Identities Trajectories (Wenger, 2002) Constellations

“ a group of people sharing a concern, a set of problems, or a passion about a topic, and who deepen their knowledge and expertise through interaction”

How CoPs are being used? CoPs are used by firms as an effective knowledge management resource Platform for developing and sharing best practices across organizational units. Differs from traditional project teams. Tools & strategies exist to help firms support CoPs

CoPs are used by firms as an effective

knowledge management resource

Platform for developing and sharing best practices

across organizational units.

Differs from traditional project teams.

Tools & strategies exist to help firms support CoPs

The CoP Framework: foundations domain community practice (Wenger, 2002)

The CoP Framework: dimensions domain community practice (Wenger, 2002) Participation Reification Designed Emergent Local Global Identification Negotiability

The CoP Framework: participation domain community practice Participation Reification Designed Emergent Identification Negotiability Local Global (Wenger, 2002) Engagement Imagination Alignment

The CoP Framework: elements Events Connectivity Leadership Membership Projects Artifacts (Wenger, 2002)

The CoP Framework: examples Castle and estate themes Alumni year book directory Alumni class representatives The Spirit of Enterprise Private Univeristy Location: Breukelen Alumni: 15,000 Est. 1946

Castle and estate themes

Alumni year book directory

Alumni class representatives

The CoP Framework: examples RSM Charity Foundation RSM Day and chapters Class reunions Critical Thought Practical Action Location: Rotterdam Alumni: 16,000 Est. 1985

RSM Charity Foundation

RSM Day and chapters

Class reunions

The CoP Framework: examples Inspire and get inspired Annual alumni day Network groups Never Stop Asking Tilburg Univ. & Eindhoven Univ. Alumni: 8,000 Est. 1986

Inspire and get inspired

Annual alumni day

Network groups

The CoP Framework: examples Alumni gatherings Certificate programs Alumni project partners Changing Technological & Development Realities International Institutions Enschede & Den Haag Alumni: 19,000 / 10,000 Est. 1950 (UTC),1952 (ISS)

Alumni gatherings

Certificate programs

Alumni project partners

Thank you! Joe Laufer [email_address]