Library clips :: Team-based CoPs compared to cross-functional...

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Saved by 4 people (0 private), first by anonymouse user on 2009-03-12

Driessen on 2009-03-27 - Tags team , community
Grlloyd on 2009-03-15 - Tags no_tag
Tedlouie on 2009-03-12 - Tags no_tag
Choconancy on 2009-03-12 - Tags communities_of_practice , teams

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What I’m often finding is that we have lots of requests by teams to use the CoP online tools as team spaces, in order to get work and tasks done. For more on this please refer to my past posts Team-based communities, Team-based communities are about change, commitment and tasks, Team-based communities : Transparency and Crowdsourcing for a more cohesive workplace Team-based CoPs are not focused on learning, although this always occurs by default, but are more driven towards solving a problem, coordinating a task, etc… A Team-based CoP may use the same tools, but will certainly have different dynamics to a cross-functional topic CoP.

Highlighted by grlloyd

Communities of Practice typically are a group of people coming together to share and learn about a common interest; as well as building a voluntary output of materials. These are usually not driven by management, instead participation is voluntary, and traditionally the goal is about learning and building capabilities rather than performing tasks.

Highlighted by driessen

Anyway here is a comparison in dynamics between Teams and CoPs.

	Team	CoP
Purpose	Achieve an outcome (task) or provide a service/product Explicit processes/standards Explicit timelines, tasks and goals	Shared area of interest (organic growth) Learning and sharing (rather than completing a task) No expected time limit
Members	Defined roles (but value team success)	Informal roles (not all contributors) Core group (but people come and go) Experienced members earn greater status
Manage	Explicit leader or manager (others on equal footing)	Community Coordinator (others on equal footing)
Participation	Required participation Expected reciprocity High interdependency (can’t succeed without each other)	Encourage participation and enthusiasm Power Law Distribution