Thinking together: What makes Communities of Practice work?

Area of Science:

• Social Sciences
• Organizational Learning
• Knowledge Management

Background:

• Communities of Practice (CoP) are crucial for professional development and knowledge sharing.
• Existing perspectives on CoP learning often overlook the personal investment of identity and social formation inherent in learning.
• Michael Polanyi's concept of personal knowledge offers a rich foundation for understanding learning within CoPs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop foundational elements of the Communities of Practice concept.
• To elaborate on learning processes within CoPs, focusing on knowledge, knowing, and knowledge sharing.
• To offer insights into optimizing the performance of social structures like CoPs in professional settings.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual development drawing on Michael Polanyi's philosophy of personal knowledge.
• Qualitative empirical study conducted within the UK National Health Service.
• Analysis of learning processes, knowledge sharing, and the role of identity investment.

Main Results:

• Learning in CoPs involves a significant investment of personal identity and social formation.
• 'Thinking together' is conceptualized as a core process in meaningful CoPs.
• Collaborative 'thinking together' facilitates the indirect sharing of tacit knowledge among professionals.

Conclusions:

• Communities of Practice are fundamentally driven by collaborative learning processes, particularly 'thinking together'.
• Understanding CoPs through the lens of personal knowledge enhances their conceptual clarity and practical application.
• Effective CoPs leverage the social formation of individuals to foster mutual guidance and tacit knowledge exchange.