Lecturer 5 - Knowledge Sharing & Communities of Practice (COP)

Knowledge Sharing & Communities of Practice (COP)
Lecture 5 (Week 5) 

Time flies, we have already stepped into July month, and it is week 5 of this trimester. As usual, 8am class is really torturing since we always go to bed not that early, bad habit indeed. Lecture class starts at 8am on time. Before this, madam mention that this chapter is very important, could be really helpful if we understand it well. So she remind us pay enough attention during class. Example learning outcomes in the end of chapter are key components of a community of practice, major roles and responsibilities in a community of practice, and identify enablers and obstacles to knowledge sharing.

First, we go into some brief introduction. What do people do usually when they capture any knowledge? Studies show that the correct one should be share and disseminate throughout the organization once the knowledge has been captured and codified. A simple phase shows when people finding source online, the chance of failing is always 95% while 5% to success. When it goes another way round, which mean people searching information off-line, they could easily success eventually. It is 90% over 10%. Communities of Practice (COP) basically mean how the people traditionally shared knowledge through ‘word of mouth’, in another word, verbally. Besides that, the COP also differ from other kinds of groups in organizations which in terms of The way they define their enterprise, The way they exist over time and The way they set their boundaries. In addition, the COP also got it roles and responsibilities which is visitor, novices, regular, leaders and elders. This role are very similar like the rank in forums.

Figure 1 : Forms of Joint Work in Organizations

Figure 2: Community of Practice (COP)

Social Network Analysis (SNA) is the mapping and measuring of relationships and flows between people, group, organizations, computers or other information/knowledge processing entities. It also identifying networks can help to improve knowledge flow and performance, identify key brokers and hoarders. 

Figure 3 : SNA (Social Network Analysis)

SNA techniques including Visualization tools used in conjunction with surveys which uses question based on objectives and good survey design is key consideration. Cluster analysis - identify highly integrated subgroups. Clustering measures the connectivity around each node. 

Undernet, one of the important topic. Ma'am ask us to take note that it is important. Undernet refers to an organization practice knowledge sharing but it may be occurring informally. Knowledge flows best when climate of trust exits, knowledge exchange is bidirectional, sender and receiver view each other as credible. Meanwhile, SNA can help identify 'undernet' in organization. 

After ma'am conclude the summary part, we are free to go. End of lecture 5 week 5. another week just gone.