communities of practice © copyright fred nickols 2010
TRANSCRIPT
Communities of Practice
© Copyright Fred Nickols 2010
Objectives
Distinguish CoPs from other groups Make a case for their potential value Touch on a couple of Do’s and Don’ts Answer whatever questions I can
2© Copyright Fred Nickols 2010
Two Different Worlds…
World A Formal organization Designed organization Hierarchy (Vertical) Authority of position Reporting relationships Defined processes Formal T&D Work as described Abstractions
World B Informal organization Emergent organization Network (Flat) Authority of
competence Working relationships Proven practices Situated learning Work as performed Experiences
3© Copyright Fred Nickols 2010
What they’re N T
Organizational unit (OU)Ongoing operational team (OT)Project team (PT)Task force (TF)Social network (SN)Community of Interest (CI)Faux team (FT)
4© Copyright Fred Nickols 2010
Purpose Membership Authority Allegiance Cohesion
Results from Resources
Assigned Positional UpwardLeadership & Relationships
Ongoing – Until
Reorganized
Ongoing Tasks
Assigned Positional UpwardTask
Dependencies
Ongoing – Until
Reengineered
Time-bound Tasks/Result
sAssigned Positional Upward
Leadership & Relationships
Inception to Completion
Appearances Assigned Non-ExistentFragmented
or Non-Existent
Management Pressure
Until Disbanded or Fades Away
Information Sharing
Invitation & Approach
Information NormsValue of the Information
Ongoing – Until It Dies
Out
Stay AbreastInvitation & Approach
Knowledge PeersLevel of Interest
Ongoing – Until It Dies
Out
Develop Expertise
Invitation & Approach
Expertise Practice IdentityOngoing – Until It Dies
Out
Duration
OU
CP
OT
TF
FT
SN
CI
5© Copyright Fred Nickols 2010
What They ARE
Groups of people (network not hierarchy) that form to share knowledge about their work (a.k.a. their
“practice”), learn from one another about that work, and provide a social context for that work (i.e., to
establish and maintain their identity)
6© Copyright Fred Nickols 2010
“Practice”
Practice versus process Three defining characteristics:
Joint Enterprise Mutual Engagement Shared Repertoire
7© Copyright Fred Nickols 2010
Hierarchy
Williams
Cohen Cross Sen Stock Shapiro
Taylor O'Brien
Jones
Andrews Moore
Miller
Smith
Hughes
Ramirez
Bell
Cole
Hussain
Kelly
Paine
Exploration Drilling Production
C&G Petrophysical ReservoirProduction
8© Copyright Fred Nickols 2010
Network
Williams
Cohen
Cross
Sen
Stock
Shapiro
Taylor
O'Brien
Jones
Andrews
Moore
Miller
Smith
Hughes
Ramirez
Bell
Cole
Hussain
Kelly
Paine
9© Copyright Fred Nickols 2010
CoP - Examples
Xerox copier technicians Pharmaceutical reps (“drug detailers”) Software developers Chrysler corporation’s “tech clubs” Production line technicians Test item writers & psychometricians Research chemists Instructional staff at Navy’s IT School
10© Copyright Fred Nickols 2010
Companies using CoPs
11© Copyright Fred Nickols 2010
Why You Should Care
Financial returns far outweigh any investment Schlumberger’s oilfield engineers
$200 million in cost savings and new revenue 75% decrease in time to update modifications 95% decrease in time to solve difficult problems
Xerox field technicians $15-20 million in annual cost savings $100 million cumulative 50,000 “tips” in their database
12© Copyright Fred Nickols 2010
Why You Should Care
CoPs are valuable organizational assets Decrease learning curves Handle unstructured problems Play a key role in developing and maintaining long-
term organizational memory Reduce rework and reinvention Increase innovation and speed Create social and intellectual capital Contribute to increased retention of talent Make change “stick”
13© Copyright Fred Nickols 2010
Some Do’s & Don’ts
DO Nurture and support existing CoPs Cultivate and support new CoPs
DON’T Mandate CoPs Manage them in a heavy-handed way
14© Copyright Fred Nickols 2010
Improve Consulting Skills
Task Force An assignment Time-bound Deliverables Finish up Get back to work Apart from me Non-sustainable
CoP A practice Open-ended Performance Continuous It is the work My identity Sustainable
15© Copyright Fred Nickols 2010
Q&A
16© Copyright Fred Nickols 2010
Contact Information
Fred Nickols 740.504.0000Managing Partner www.nickols.usDistance Consulting LLC [email protected] Coshocton Ave - 303Mount Vernon, OH 43050
17