Communities of Practice for New Employees
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MAY 14, 2009
RAMIROSE ATTEBURY
KRISTIN HENRICH
ROBERT PERRET
GEOFFREY WOOD
DEBORAH GREEN
UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO
Communities of Practice for
New Employees
Topics Covered
Definition of Community of Practice (CoP)
CoP at the University of Idaho
Benefits of a CoP
Creating a CoP
CoP at Your Library (Discussion groups)
Definition/Characteristics
A joint enterprise understood and continually
renegotiated among members.
Binds members as a social entity through
involvement in common activities.
Members have a common background or interest.
Members have a common goal or purpose.
Informal relationship based on trust and group
identity
Voluntary membership
(Source: Hildreth, Paul and Chris Kimble.
Knowledge Networks:
Innovation through Communities of Practice
. Hershey, PA: Idea Group Publishing, 2004.)
CoP at the University of Idaho
Five new tenure-track librarians hired in one year
Evolved out of desire for mentorship toward research
and publishing
Planning meeting with expert in CoPs
Group goals and expectations defined by larger faculty group
Refined by new librarians who drafted charter document and
group agreement
Charter document approved by larger faculty group:
the new Community of Practice
CoP at the University of Idaho
Membership completely voluntary
Members of CoP agreed to meet once a month for an
hour to discuss research ideas in non-judgmental
environment
Listserv created to facilitate discussion among
members
Meetings consist of two parts
Half hour presentation of research by one member
Open forum for other members to discuss research
ideas or problems
Benefits of CoP
Safe place to gain feedback for research ideas or projects
Ability to find collaborators for projects
Sharing information about calls for proposals or projects currently
underway
Ensure communication among librarians from different library
departments
Combats isolation and worry connected to publishing requirements
Group should:
Task and Maintenance
manage itself
assign jobs to members
plan and schedule work
take action to remedy
problems
75 percent of effort
get the work done
constant improvement
25 percent of effort
effective decision making
implement decisions
resolve problems
resolve internal conflicts
Creating a CoP
Creating a CoP: Lessons Learned
Need
Small group of founding members
Make sure goals and expectations are clearly
expressed
Should not create additional burden for members
If gap in presentation schedule, do conference recap
Presenting should be optional
Optional not mandatory attendance
Don’t be afraid to reevaluate and make
changes if necessary
Questions for Discussion
Do you think a CoP would work at your library?
If yes, how would you make it work?
If no, how could you apply these principles to
another learning group?
Keeping current with the profession
Writing groups
Article discussion groups
Do you currently have a successful learning
organization?
What suggestions do you have to share with the
group?
Explore the concept of Communities of Practice (CoP) through a case study at the University of Idaho, focusing on benefits, characteristics, implementation, and activities within the CoP. Discover how CoPs offer a space for collaboration and knowledge sharing among members, aiding in professional development and combating isolation.
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Presentation Transcript
Communities of Practice for New Employees MAY 14, 2009 RAMIROSE ATTEBURY KRISTIN HENRICH ROBERT PERRET GEOFFREY WOOD DEBORAH GREEN UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO
Topics Covered Definition of Community of Practice (CoP) CoP at the University of Idaho Benefits of a CoP Creating a CoP CoP at Your Library (Discussion groups)
Definition/Characteristics A joint enterprise understood and continually renegotiated among members. Binds members as a social entity through involvement in common activities. Members have a common background or interest. Members have a common goal or purpose. Informal relationship based on trust and group identity Voluntary membership (Source: Hildreth, Paul and Chris Kimble. Knowledge Networks: Innovation through Communities of Practice. Hershey, PA: Idea Group Publishing, 2004.)
CoP at the University of Idaho Five new tenure-track librarians hired in one year Evolved out of desire for mentorship toward research and publishing Planning meeting with expert in CoPs Group goals and expectations defined by larger faculty group Refined by new librarians who drafted charter document and group agreement Charter document approved by larger faculty group: the new Community of Practice
CoP at the University of Idaho Membership completely voluntary Members of CoP agreed to meet once a month for an hour to discuss research ideas in non-judgmental environment Listserv created to facilitate discussion among members Meetings consist of two parts Half hour presentation of research by one member Open forum for other members to discuss research ideas or problems
Benefits of CoP Safe place to gain feedback for research ideas or projects Ability to find collaborators for projects Sharing information about calls for proposals or projects currently underway Ensure communication among librarians from different library departments Combats isolation and worry connected to publishing requirements
Creating a CoP Task and Maintenance Group should: manage itself assign jobs to members plan and schedule work take action to remedy problems 75 percent of effort get the work done constant improvement 25 percent of effort effective decision making implement decisions resolve problems resolve internal conflicts
Creating a CoP: Lessons Learned Need Small group of founding members Make sure goals and expectations are clearly expressed Should not create additional burden for members If gap in presentation schedule, do conference recap Presenting should be optional Optional not mandatory attendance Don t be afraid to reevaluate and make changes if necessary
Questions for Discussion Do you think a CoP would work at your library? If yes, how would you make it work? If no, how could you apply these principles to another learning group? Keeping current with the profession Writing groups Article discussion groups Do you currently have a successful learning organization? What suggestions do you have to share with the group?
