Organization Vs Communities of Practice (CoP)
Given the definitions of both an organization and CoP, there exits a relationship between both groups. Both groups work towards benefiting it’s environment either by Cops withing an organization influencing its immediate environment through knowledge sharing and thereby increasing efficiency in processes then profit.
However one needs to consider their differences which are reflected on below.
Both groups work towards certain specified goals. For CoP’s, it’s goal is to come together and share experiences and transfer knowledge through sharing where the goal of a business organization is to make profit through execution of certain processes giving predefined output into it’s environment.
In the case of an organization, it has a formal structure whilst a social network could have some sort of structure but not a formal one.structured. For example, an organization would have levels such as top level management, middle level and operational level where as with CoPs there needn’t be a formal structure to its existence.
Another difference lies in their entity i.e. a business organization is a legal entity bound by certain rules and laws where in the CoP there may be rules that the members have laid down but they are not legally binding hence a CoP is not a legal entity.
Even though differences exist in what these groups stand for, I still feel the organization can benefit from CoPs as long as the agenda and or objectives of the CoP(s) align with the overall goals and objectives of the organization thereby averting conflict(s).
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I agree that organizations and CoPs are two different things, two different 'entities' if you like. But I just want to point out that a CoP can exist in an organization so a Cop in an organization can be used to make profit directly or indirectly. An example could be a CoP of doctors developing a new medicine. This CoP can exist within a pharmaceutical company which will use the knowledge of the CoP to make money eventhough making money might not have been the force that drove the doctors to form the CoP but their will and commitmend to help people.
ReplyDeleteIf we take both your point and christos' together does that suggest that COP's behave differently depending on the environment that they exist within?
ReplyDeleteIf you have one within an organisation it may well be bound by the rules, regs and legal restrictions of that organisation i.e. Civil service, R&D arm of an electronics company. In these instances although they share knowledge they may be bound by non disclosure agreements etc.
Those exiting outside or across organisations may be less restricted in their publication and sharing of the knowledge which could be distribute horizontally across the industry or within the public domain.
Nice thought! Yes I agree that a CoP embedded within an organization might behave differently than a Cop that is independent. If a Cop is a part of an organization, it might have to follow rules, policies, etc set by the organization. So if a CoP is directly affected by the organization, I believe that it only is natural that the CoP will function differently, in comparison with an independent CoP.
ReplyDeleteThanks Chris and Francis, I agree with yoy Christos in that they CoP can make profit indirectly but I assume their main aim on the outset will not be to make profit. Francis, I was trying to get that across when I said that their should not be a conflict between a CoP within an organization's goals and that of the organization i.e. CoP is bound by the rules of the organization it is in.
ReplyDeleteAn interesting read. Thought I should drop in a few lines.
ReplyDeleteI don't tottaly agree that a CoP that exists within an Organisation will behave differently from others. CoPs are not a legal entity and therefore are not bound by the Organisation and don't have to follow its rules. The CoP may not even be in line with the Organisation!
Surely if memebrs are all in the same Organisation, the Organisational culture may be transfered into the CoP but that would be the case for any other CoP and whatever environment they exist in. The effect of environment.
'the Organisational culture may be transfered into the CoP' i think thats how the organization might or might not affect the CoP indirectly
ReplyDeleteThis is a great discussion. As we've talked about before, there are few precise definitions in the KM area. The language always has to be interpreted in a given context. However, most observers agree that an organisation is about common goals, values, practices, motivations, etc. A simple idea of a CoP is about shared knowledge and skills. In essence a CoP is nothing to do with organisations, but about individuals. The individuals that belong to a CoP may have personal goals, etc., but the CoP has none, except to develop and promote the knowledge of its members.
ReplyDeleteWhat has complicated discussion has been that many (often large) organisations see the value of CoPs and organise them _within_ the organisation. This means that the internal CoP inherits the goals, etc. of the organisation.
So, watch out for the 'pure' notions and the what happens to them when applied in certain situations. You need to know about both!