Communities of Practice: The Organizational Frontier

Communities of Practice: The Organizational Frontier

How can you integrate communities of practice more effectively into ongoing company operations?

Author(s): Etienne C. Wenger, William M. Snyder

Publisher: Harvard Business Review

Date of publication: 2000

Read this article on the publisher's website [Harvard Business Review]

Summary

This article considers the appropriate interaction between communities and the companies’ traditional organization. It first underlines what makes the difference between a community and a more formal workgroup. It then highlights, through convincing examples, the best practices to set up such communities, and to help them function in an autonomous manner, yet through a productive relationship with the rest of the organization. A foundation text that remains relevant and enlightening.