Community of Practice

Community of Practice, lead by Ann Brown



Addressing what is a Community of Practice.


A community of practice (CoP) is, according to cognitive anthropologists Jean Lave and Etienne Wenger, a group of people who share a craft and/or a profession. The group can evolve naturally because of the members' common interest in a particular domain or area, or it can be created specifically with the goal of gaining knowledge related to their field. It is through the process of sharing information and experiences with the group that the members learn from each other, and have an opportunity to develop themselves personally and professionally (Lave & Wenger 1991). CoPs can exist online, such as within discussion boards and newsgroups, or in real life, such as in a lunch room at work, in a field setting, on a factory floor, or elsewhere in the environment.
Communities of practice are not new phenomena: this type of learning practice has existed for as long as people have been learning and sharing their experiences through storytelling. Jean Lave and Etienne Wenger coined the phrase in their 1991 book, 'Situated learning' (Lave & Wenger 1991), and Wenger then significantly expanded on the concept in his 1998 book, 'Communities of Practice' (Wenger 1998).



How does it differ from a Community of Interest or simply a project team or social circle. 

In addition to the distinction between CoP and other types of organizational groupings found in the workplace, in some cases it is useful to differentiate CoP from Communities of Interest (CoI).

Community of Interest:
A group of people interested in sharing information and discussing a particular topic that interests them.
Members are not necessarily experts or practitioners of the topic around which the CoI has formed.
The purpose of the CoI is to provide a place where people who share a common interest can go and exchange information, ask questions, and express their opinions about the topic.
Membership in a CoI is not dependent upon expertise - one only needs to be interested in the subject.



Considering what forms they take and how they can benefit all involved. 

Social capital
Social capital is said to be a multi-dimensional concept, with both public and private facets Template:(Bourdieu, 1991). That is, social capital may provide value to both the individual and the group as a whole. Through informal connections that participants build in their community of practice, and in the process of sharing their expertise, learning from others, and participating in the group, members are said to be acquiring social capital - especially those members who demonstrate expertise and experience.






Participants have the opportunity to show support for each others suggestions and thoughts written on large circular discs that can be displayed, by voting with a stamp.