A guide to managing knowledge: cultivating communities of practice

Provides practical models and methods for directing communities so as to enable them to reach their full potential. Communities of practice are viewed as coming together around common interests and expertise whether they are made up of people such as first-line managers or consumer service representatives, neurosurgeons or software programmers and city managers or home-improvement amateurs. These create, share and apply knowledge within and across boundaries of teams, business units and whole companies, which leads to the creation of a true knowledge organisation. Communities are seen to form naturally, but organisations are required to become more proactive and systematic when developing and incorporating communities into their policy. The book indicates that in addition to technology, developing communities of practice is important in an effective knowledge strategy. Through in-depth cases from firms, the authors show how communities of practice can be influenced to drive overall company strategy and also create new business opportunities.