IFAD is placing people at the core of its knowledge management initiatives, recognizing that knowledge resides in those who are actively involved in projects and programmes, and not in repositories. This reflects a greater understanding of what knowledge management is, and of the fact that knowledge development and sharing is about collaboration and connecting people. We are therefore emphasizing the importance of peer-to-peer knowledge sharing and learning, and promoting and supporting use of tools and approaches that intentionally harness the knowledge of individuals - both inside and outside our organization.
WHAT ARE COMMUNITIES OF PRACTICE?
Communities of Practice, or CoPs, can be defined as groups of people who share a passion for something that they know how to do, and who interact regularly to learn how to do it better. They are comprised of three elements:
- domain – the definition of the area of shared inquiry and of the key issues;
- community – the relationships among members and sense of belonging;
- practice – the body of knowledge, methods, stories, cases, tools and documents.
This is a standard definition that is widely used in the knowledge management community, put forward by Etienne and Beverly Wenger-Trayner in their 2015 publication and dedicated website ("Introduction to communities of practice: A brief overview of the concept and its uses"). CoPs can, for example, be groups of people who work or have an interest in a specific theme, who want to develop and share knowledge, ask questions, or find experts. They can be groups of people working in the same type of job, who want to learn how to improve their practice, solve problems, find new or different ways of doing things. In our work, they can be groups of people within an organization, or large networks of people from many organizations, sectors and countries around the world.
Introduction to communities of practice: A brief overview of the concept and its uses
Etienne and Beverly Wenger-Trayner, 2015
The term “community of practice” is of relatively recent coinage, even though the phenomenon it refers to is age-old. The concept has turned out to provide a useful perspective on knowing and learning. A growing number of people and organizations in various sectors are now focusing on communities of practice as a key to improving their performance.
Etienne and Beverly Wenger-Trayner, 2015
The term “community of practice” is of relatively recent coinage, even though the phenomenon it refers to is age-old. The concept has turned out to provide a useful perspective on knowing and learning. A growing number of people and organizations in various sectors are now focusing on communities of practice as a key to improving their performance.
What's in this section? The following pages look at the steps involved in setting and managing a thematic community, presenting resources and examples.
WHY AND WHEN TO USE THEM?
Organizations like IFAD are continually seeking cost-effective ways to leverage expertise for problem solving and competitive advantage. Why should they start a CoP? Communities of Practice provide a space to exchange practices that might support all decision-making processes, and strengthen the capacity building efforts. In short, they offer a forum where the competitive advantage which is embedded in people’s knowledge and skills can be disseminated.
HOW TO SET UP AND MANAGE A COP
Starting with a general definition, there are different steps that are generally considered when setting up a Community of Practice. At the same time, it is possible to list a series of "success factors", as those that are recommended to be followed when working with its members and managing a CoP.
MEASURING VALUE
The causal relationship between community activities, knowledge resources and performance outcomes need to be measured and documented to properly demonstrate the community's value and prove its effectiveness in reaching the goals. At the same time, the community’s satisfaction and overall engagement need to be analysed.
COPS in IFAD
What communities are already working? Find a few examples in this section - and join them.