CommunityIntelligence Ltd.

"First, just get people comfortable connecting, sharing, helping one another, seeking one another out to exchange value... If the culture is one of sharing and the social networking tools are present in the same space as the tools people use for their practice work, communities of practice can emerge.

"From knowledge 'managers' to knowledge 'cultivators': The role of system catalysts will be as 'cultivators' or gardeners who adopt an ecosystem-like approach to establishing trust-based connections (through relation-building, normative values, incentives, etc.) between existing stakeholder groups.

Only communities of practitioners can assess realistically what work and learning practices add more effectiveness, efficiency, and enjoyment to practicing their profession.  As those communities mature, they start taking responsibility for jointly evolving their domain of practice. At that point, they become a central force of production; they move from the fringes of value creation into the heart of it. 

It’s Spring time in the Northern hemisphere; trees, the young, and the young at heart are coming alive with new vibrancy.  The seeds that have been germinating in the long winter, are now sprouting. They are stretching into becoming what they are destined by their DNA. Some of them will die before reaching it; others will grow into glorious youth and adulthood.

Procter & Gamble, a consumer-goods giant, has created more than 20 “communities of practice” which bring together volunteers from different parts of the company and focus on a specific area of expertise, such as packaging, fragrances or skin science. These groups meet and share ideas, and other employees can put questions to them via the company’s intranet. Many of the company’s products have benefited from innovations brought about through internal co-operation and knowledge-sharing.