Comments on: Communities of Practice PART 4 http://distributedresearch.net/blog/2005/02/21/communities-of-practice-part-4 Distributed Action Research, communities of practice and social objects by Andy Roberts Tue, 02 Dec 2008 21:06:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2 By: Maureen http://distributedresearch.net/blog/2005/02/21/communities-of-practice-part-4#comment-30630 Maureen Thu, 24 Feb 2005 08:23:24 +0000 http://distributedresearch.net/blog/2005/02/21/communities-of-practice-part-4#comment-30630 Maybe the participants had something deeper in common, perhaps in their personalities, for example - after all they were listening to the same programme in the first instance so this could in itself be an idictaor that they were like-minded people. The community was the medium that allowed them to identify other areas and similarities in themselves and the community changed to became more of a social meeting place. Is it not the people that make the CoP, not the practice itself? Maybe the participants had something deeper in common, perhaps in their personalities, for example - after all they were listening to the same programme in the first instance so this could in itself be an idictaor that they were like-minded people. The community was the medium that allowed them to identify other areas and similarities in themselves and the community changed to became more of a social meeting place. Is it not the people that make the CoP, not the practice itself?

]]> By: Andy http://distributedresearch.net/blog/2005/02/21/communities-of-practice-part-4#comment-30629 Andy Wed, 23 Feb 2005 10:49:22 +0000 http://distributedresearch.net/blog/2005/02/21/communities-of-practice-part-4#comment-30629 I think it's true that passion is an essential element. It needn't be present from the start though, but develops naturally if the COP is successful, and is in turn a part of the success. I used to be in a community which discussed a rather dreary radio 4 Fly-on-the-wall documentary. Most of the members wern't all that bothered by the radio programme but they are very passionate about the online community itself, to the extend of always offering real and tangible help to each other in all sorts of spheres. A powerful force indeed, but would fall down against Wenger's criteria through the absence of a common practice. I think it’s true that passion is an essential element. It needn’t be present from the start though, but develops naturally if the COP is successful, and is in turn a part of the success. I used to be in a community which discussed a rather dreary radio 4 Fly-on-the-wall documentary. Most of the members wern’t all that bothered by the radio programme but they are very passionate about the online community itself, to the extend of always offering real and tangible help to each other in all sorts of spheres. A powerful force indeed, but would fall down against Wenger’s criteria through the absence of a common practice.

]]> By: Maureen http://distributedresearch.net/blog/2005/02/21/communities-of-practice-part-4#comment-30628 Maureen Wed, 23 Feb 2005 08:17:25 +0000 http://distributedresearch.net/blog/2005/02/21/communities-of-practice-part-4#comment-30628 I don't thinks it enough to have a shared interest for a CoP to be successful. I think there needs to be a shared passion by its participants for it to develop and thrive. I don’t thinks it enough to have a shared interest for a CoP to be successful. I think there needs to be a shared passion by its participants for it to develop and thrive.

]]> By: Stephen Powell http://distributedresearch.net/blog/2005/02/21/communities-of-practice-part-4#comment-30627 Stephen Powell Mon, 21 Feb 2005 22:09:50 +0000 http://distributedresearch.net/blog/2005/02/21/communities-of-practice-part-4#comment-30627 The work of Lave and Wenger was largely based on crafts or trades from before the industrial revolution. The exception that I am aware of is a group of claims processors in an insurance firm. I have read the criticism that these contexts do not translate well to an industrial or post-industrial society and I can see some sense in this as the social contexts in which we now live and work are very different. I think the notion of shared enterprise is very important, that is not simply being interested in or doing the same thing but having the same vested interest. I suspect this is why CoP between different schools are often less successful than is hoped. The work of Lave and Wenger was largely based on crafts or trades from before the industrial revolution. The exception that I am aware of is a group of claims processors in an insurance firm. I have read the criticism that these contexts do not translate well to an industrial or post-industrial society and I can see some sense in this as the social contexts in which we now live and work are very different.

I think the notion of shared enterprise is very important, that is not simply being interested in or doing the same thing but having the same vested interest. I suspect this is why CoP between different schools are often less successful than is hoped.

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