Web-based Learning Solutions for Communities of Practice

Conditions and Key Success Factors for the Management of Communities of Practice
skills to motivate people and communicate
with them. Regarding members, it is necessary
to bear in mind that they themselves
assume a commitment to participate in the
community and that they must have enough
time to do so. In addition, the community
cannot go against the organizational culture
in question, since the latter will always be
stronger than the former. Because of this, it
is preferable for the community to be created
with a sense of respect for the organizational
culture and, as a result, for it to deal with
subjects that agree with the organizational
values in question.
• The community challenge: The worst that
can happen to a community is the loss of
energy due to apathetic behavior on behalf
of its members, leaving the coordinator with
the entire responsibility for the community.
This stage will always occur when it exist an
organization goal but it does not match with
any existing community goals. If it’s not the
case, it can be prevented by involving leaders
from other networks, with forums that
pursue the maintenance of contact among
the members of the community. In fact, the
members of the community’s core are also
its pillars; the people who contribute to the
community living energetically.
• The personal challenge: One of the greatest
values of CoP’s is their space and artifacts
for their members thinking and solving
problems as a group. However, discussions,
contributions, and sharing ideas, knowledge,
and experience is not something that is revealed
naturally, unless people are motivated
Figure 2. Key success factors in the cultivation of CoP (Adapted from McDermott, 1999b)
Management Challenge
CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS IN BUILDING CoPs
1. Focus on topics important to thebusiness and communitymembers.
2. Find a well-respected communitymembertocoordinatethe community.
3. Make surepeoplehavetime and encouragement to participate.
4. Build on thecorevalues of theorganization.
Community Challenge
5. Get keythought leaders involved.
6. Build personal relationships among community members.
7. Develop an active passionatecoregroup.
8. Create forums for thinking together as well as systems for sharinginformation.
Technical Challenge
9. Make iteasytocontributeand access thecommunity’s knowledge and practices.
Personal Challenge
10. Create real dialogue about cutting edge issues.
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