10
80% Explicit knowledge Tacit knowledge 20% Why a Community of Practice?
80%
Explicit knowledge
Tacit knowledge
20%
Why a Community of Practice?
What is the value of a Community of Practice?
• Cannot capture everything that we/others know (the “iceberg” dilemma)
• Cannot predict all the knowledge that someone needs –formal workshop can provide the foundation but real learning happens by “doing” and through “conversations” with others
• No single person has the answer to every
question/problem—Need to tap
“wisdom of the crowd”/community
Why a Community of Practice?
WHAT IS A CoP?
Communities of practice are groups of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly.
(Wenger circa 2007)
A group of individuals bounded by a common professional interest (practice) who voluntarily come together to share good practices, ideas, experiences, and ultimately help to advance the “practice”.
(Semantix, 2009)
CoP Fundamentals
Research Centers
Facilitator
Support Team
Champions
Community
Members
CoP Fundamentals
“Core” Group
occasional
peripheral
active
Facilitator
lurkers
Champions
Experts
Support Team
Coordinator
core
CoP Fundamentals
Number of participants
Number of contributions
1% active contributors
9% occasional contributors
90% readers (aka ‘lurkers’)
The 1-9-90 rule
CoP Fundamentals
Examples of Services to Community Members
Online Discussions
Question Engagement Community Responses
“Ag-Exchange”
Priority Topic
Discussion Synthesis
E-Consultation Draft
Plan/Program Comment
Period Feedback for
Consideration
Workshops Topic Area In-Person Workshop
Continuing Dialogue
Activities and Engagement
Expert/Peer Assists
Issue/Challenge Call/Webinar Outcomes
shared with community
o Agrilinks & the Knowledge-Driven International
Development (KDID) Portal
Activities and Engagement
o Online discussions, collaboration and file
sharing
o Low-bandwidth, flexible solutions for online
communication; Participation via email
o Robust library of user-submitted content
o Access to global industry-events
Activities and Engagement
o Clear expectations, roles and requirements for the various partners in the network
o Network goals and activities are aligned with member objectives
o Activities reflect member behavior and leverage existing work processes
o Strong leadership catalyzes and sustains activity and adjusts if the network is not meeting expectations
o Regular communication
Critical Elements for Success
