Leveraging environmental scanning methods to identify knowledge management activities in transportation

2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 579-592 ◽  
Author(s):  
Denise Bedford ◽  
Frances Harrison
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Communities Of Practice ◽  
Community Of Practice ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Support Network ◽  
Environmental Scanning ◽  
Economic Sectors ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Environmental Scan ◽  
Transportation Sector

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to highlight the level of knowledge management (KM) activity underway in the transportation sector. The environmental scan highlighted common business drivers for KM across transportation agencies. Design/methodology/approach – The project team used outreach methods, environmental scanning techniques, targeted interviews constructed around amplifying questions to identify stakeholders. A two-day workshop was sponsored, where stakeholders could discuss common business interests and exchange KM practices. Findings – The environmental scan methodology was successful and will be carried over to two other economic sectors in the coming year. The identification and elaboration of business drivers through the amplification process was a valuable contribution. Sharing of KM practices was highly effective because the participants were working from a common set of business drivers. Research limitations/implications – This activity has implications for other sectors. Well-designed environmental scans of KM programs and initiatives can identify stakeholders for intra-sector communities of practice. These communities of practice provide a support network for knowledge professionals working within organizations, provide the input for intra-sector KM research agendas, and a collaborative action plan for moving that agenda forward. Practical implications – The workshop participants identified six action items to advance the practice of KM within their institutions. Social implications – The environmental scan and the workshop resulted in the creation of a community of practice of knowledge professionals for the transportation sector. The community of practice will work to advance KM within the transportation sector. Originality/value – The authors believe the scan approach provides a new and valuable approach to encouraging the practice of KM in the field of transportation. The authors also suggest that this approach may be used effectively in other sectors to promote the discipline.

Facilitator Toolkit for Building and Sustaining Virtual Communities of Practice

2011 ◽  
pp. 202-215 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Kimball ◽  
Amy Ladd
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
Communities Of Practice ◽  
Community Of Practice ◽  
Virtual Communities ◽  
Collaborative Work ◽  
Work Training ◽  
Virtual Communities Of Practice ◽  
Over Time

The boundaries of a Community of Practice (CoP) have changed significantly because of changes in organizations and the nature of the work they do. Organizations have become more distributed across geography and across industries. Relationships between people inside an organization and those previously considered outside (customers, suppliers, managers of collaborating organizations, other stakeholders) are becoming more important. In addition, organizations have discovered the value of collaborative work due to the new emphasis on Knowledge Management—harvesting the learning and the experience of members of the organization so that it is available to the whole organization. This chapter offers a practical toolkit of best practices, tips and examples from the authors’ work training leaders to launch and sustain a virtual CoP, including tips for chartering the community, defining roles, and creating the culture that will sustain the community over time.

Model on Knowledge-Governance

2011 ◽  
pp. 418-433
Author(s):  
Eduardo Bueno Campos
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Communities Of Practice ◽  
Intellectual Capital ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Practical Approach ◽  
Reference Framework ◽  
Grey Area ◽  
Knowledge Governance ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Traditional Term

The aim of this chapter is to deepen the concept of ‘Communities of Practice’ (CoPs) from the understanding of a reference framework for knowledge governance, stressing the grey area which distinguishes such governance from the traditional term ‘Knowledge Management,’ since knowledge governance means not just the management of such assets but also their creation and development, which generates a richer and more appropriate meaning or sense. Without entering into exhaustive referential analyses, we attempt to offer the reader a practical approach which allows structuring an action plan that, in this case, will be explicated for the field of CoPs. Identification and measurement of assets based on information and knowledge and the processes carried out towards its improvement create the convergence of the dynamic of intellectual capital and the afore-mentioned knowledge governance as complementary subjects for an appropriate exploitation and monitoring of the impact which the organizational fostering of this strategic-reality has on business.

Communities of practice as a multidisciplinary response in times of crisis: adapting to successful online learning practices

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kerrie Sadiq
Keyword(s):  
Online Learning ◽  
Communities Of Practice ◽  
Community Of Practice ◽  
Informal Education ◽  
Academic Community ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Knowledge And Skills ◽  
Delivery Model ◽  
Learning Practices ◽  
Online Format

Purpose There are many success stories during Covid-19 of academics providing expertly delivered online learning experiences for tertiary students locally and around the world. This paper aims to consider how success was achieved by academics who are not specifically educated with the knowledge and skills to convert a traditional delivery model into an online format and who conventionally spend years working on single projects before they come to fruition. Design/methodology/approach This study provides, as a possible explanation for success, the willingness of academics to embrace a tertiary sector rather than discipline-specific collaborative learning approach to their own informal education in online learning practices through communities of practice. Using learning theory, both analytical and reflective methodologies are adopted through an examination of an example of a successful academic community of practice. Findings Engaging with a multidisciplinary community of practice can be highly beneficial for academics not specifically educated with the knowledge and skills to convert a traditional delivery model into an online format. Communities of practice provide more than online educational skills; they foster a sense of togetherness and a safe environment to share concerns and challenges on both a professional and personal level. Originality/value The benefits of communities of practice for academics during a period of profound operational disruption have yet to be documented in the literature. Specifically, this study highlights the supportive environment provided by a community of practice by examining the successful large-scale transition from face-to-face learning to an online environment during a pandemic.

eLearning within the Community of Practice for sustainable development

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 312-322 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ihor Katernyak ◽  
Viktoriya Loboda ◽  
Maryana Kulya
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Project Management ◽  
Learning Environment ◽  
Community Of Practice ◽  
Learning Strategies ◽  
Local Development ◽  
Management Tools ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Knowledge Management Tools

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how the use of two knowledge management tools – eLearning and Community of Practice (CoP) – promotes the culture of managing by projects in public organizations toward achieving Sustainable Development Goals. Design/methodology/approach The paper presents three learning strategies for organizing eLearning in CoP, tailored e-course curriculum in Project Management for Local Development within the “4A” model (attention, actualization, attraction, action), with focus on learners’ feelings and emotions used for designing the eLearning process. Findings Every fourth learner was in the state of flow during the e-course, 70 percent of learners felt the state of arousal at certain moment of learning, and about 65 percent felt in control of knowledge they could apply. Practical implications This study bridges the gap between theory and practice by demonstrating synergistic effect of two knowledge management tools (e-learning and CoP) and proves the selection of learning strategies. Social implications Every year, about 1,000 public sector representatives and community leaders join the virtual CoP to study expertise, improve own practice, find new ideas and promote the culture of managing by projects for sustainable development. Originality/value The presented case shows eLearning implementation in the context of CoP, e-course curriculum “Project Management for Local Development,” and learning strategies aimed at constructing knowledge in competitive learning environment, applying new knowledge in practice in experiential learning environment and supporting affective and social learners’ behavior. The presented mental states are used as criteria for monitoring the learners’ emotional involvement in the e-course in different roles.

Communities of practice: control or autonomy?

2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thibaut Bardon ◽  
Stefano Borzillo
Keyword(s):  
Communities Of Practice ◽  
Community Of Practice ◽  
Western Europe ◽  
Middle Managers ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Managerial Control ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Practical Recommendations

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to address the question of how two seemingly opposite principles – managerial control and autonomy – simultaneously affect, positively and negatively, managers’ motivation to develop together innovative practices in a community of practice (the Custoprog community). Design/methodology/approach – A single-case study was conducted in the Custoprog community, during which 22 semi-directive interviews with Custoprog members were conducted over a period of eight months. Members are all EuroAirport middle managers of EuroAirport (a Western Europe international airport). Findings – The findings highlight how Custoprog members experience the conflicting situation of enjoying some autonomy (granted by top management), while being subjected to some degree of managerial control. Our results focus on how these two opposite principles (control and autonomy) simultaneously (positively as well as negatively) affect the motivation of Custoprog members to develop innovative practices together. Research limitations/implications – The study is limited by the scope of the sample. Further research conducted in multiple communities of practice (CoPs) may therefore be useful for comparability purposes, and to generalize our results. Practical implications – We provide a set of practical recommendations to steer CoPs effectively, by achieving a delicate balance between control and autonomy. Originality/value – Our investigation contributes to understanding the strategic benefits of using CoPs as an informal means of developing and diffusing customer-related innovative practices.

scholarly journals Using developmental evaluation methods with communities of practice

2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (2/3) ◽  
pp. 141-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine van Winkelen
Keyword(s):  
Communities Of Practice ◽  
Community Of Practice ◽  
Comparative Method ◽  
Evaluation Methods ◽  
Developmental Evaluation ◽  
Change Initiatives ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Structural Mechanism ◽  
Support Resources ◽  
And Performance

Purpose This paper aims to explore the use of developmental evaluation methods with community of practice programmes experiencing change or transition to better understand how to target support resources. Design/methodology/approach The practical use of a number of developmental evaluation methods was explored in three organizations over a nine-month period using an action research design. The research was a collaborative process involving all the company participants and the academic (the author) with the intention of developing the practices of the participants as well as contributing to scholarship. Findings The developmental evaluation activities achieved the objectives of the knowledge managers concerned: they developed a better understanding of the contribution and performance of their communities of practice, allowing support resources to be better targeted. Three methods (fundamental evaluative thinking, actual-ideal comparative method and focus on strengths and assets) were found to be useful. Cross-case analysis led to the proposition that developmental evaluation methods act as a structural mechanism that develops the discourse of the organization in ways that enhance the climate for learning, potentially helping develop a learning organization. Practical implications Developmental evaluation methods add to the options available to evaluate community of practice programmes. These supplement the commonly used activity indicators and impact story methods. Originality/value Developmental evaluation methods are often used in social change initiatives, informing public policy and funding decisions. The contribution here is to extend their use to organizational community of practice programmes.

Bridging the gap for beginning teachers: researcher as mentor

2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 171-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Andries D'Souza
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Preparation ◽  
Communities Of Practice ◽  
Beginning Teachers ◽  
Teaching Profession ◽  
Figured Worlds ◽  
Support Network ◽  
Legitimate Peripheral Participation ◽  
Preparation Programs ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Questioning Strategies

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the benefits of an unintended mentoring relationship between researchers and beginning teachers during a longitudinal, qualitative study. The study highlights the opportunity for teacher preparation to serve as a bridge to close the gap in learning between the relatively theoretical world of teacher preparation and practical world of classroom teaching. Design/methodology/approach – The study analyzed extensive qualitative data relating to two beginning teachers over a five-year period. As a theoretical framework this study drew from Lave and Wenger's (1991) theories of legitimate peripheral participation and communities of practice. In addition, significant parallels were drawn to applications of figured worlds (Holland et al., 1998) which addressed the manner in which teachers were able to “figure themselves” into teaching contexts. Findings – This study provides support for developing communities of practice to bridge the gap of support between teacher preparation and the teaching profession. The engagement and design of the support remains crucial as the study recommends creating a support network between two individuals with an established, trusting relationship and comparable theoretical groundings. Finally, the relationship must be built around non-evaluative, questioning strategies which encourage teacher inquiry. Originality/value – Although the long-term relationship between university researcher and participant remains somewhat rare, it is important to highlight the mentoring potential – and associated benefits – of such relationships. The established trust and bridge of ideas between a researcher and a participant completing preparation at the same university are key factors in successful support. This study is relevant for teacher preparation programs and professional development organizations as they work to more effectively support beginning teachers’ transition into the profession.

Environmental scan

2017 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 76-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dinesh Rathi ◽  
Ali Shiri ◽  
Catherine Cockney
Keyword(s):  
Information Science ◽  
Data Gathering ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Field Trips ◽  
Environmental Scanning ◽  
Library And Information Science ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Environmental Scan ◽  
Environmental Models ◽  
Novel Approach

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to propose an evidence-based environmental scanning model that will provide a methodological framework for conducting community-engaged and community-focused research, with a particular emphasis on northern communities in Canada. Design/methodology/approach The study has adopted a multifaceted environmental scanning approach to understand the Inuvialuit Settlement Region communities. The research design is informed by various environmental models as discussed in literature from a broad range of domains such as business, library and information science (LIS), and a sophisticated multimethod data gathering approach that included field trips, observations, surveys, as well as informal methods of community engagement. Findings The paper proposes an environmental scan model as a novel approach to community-focused digital library (DL) development. The paper identifies both macro- and micro-environmental landscapes as applicable to the development of a DL for communities in Canada’s North. The macro-environmental landscapes include: geographical, historical and sociocultural, political and regulatory, economic, technological, competition, and human resource. The micro-environmental landscapes include: stakeholder and community, linguistic, information resource, and ownership. Originality/value The environmental scanning model and its key components presented in this paper provide a novel and concrete example of a project that aims to organize information for increased access and to create value through the design and implementation of an infrastructure for a cultural heritage DL. The environmental scan model will also contribute to both research and practice in the field of Library and Information Science (LIS), particularly in the area of DL development for rural, remote, and indigenous communities.

scholarly journals Building a digitally enhanced community of practice

2020 ◽  
Vol 121 (5/6) ◽  
pp. 241-250
Author(s):  
Jonan Phillip Donaldson
Keyword(s):  
Communities Of Practice ◽  
Community Of Practice ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Design Principles ◽  
Mediated Learning ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Digitally Enhanced ◽  
Face To Face Learning ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose Emergency transitions from face-to-face learning environments to digitally mediated learning require robust support networks, particularly in the form of communities of practice. Digitally enhanced communities of practice (DECoP) can be created and sustained when research-based design principles are used. The purpose of this paper is to present a set of evidence-based design principles for purposeful creation of digitally enhanced communities of practice. Design/methodology/approach This study used integrative literature review methodology. All literature regarding DECoP was collected, analyzed and synthesized to provide a set of design principles for building DECoPs. Findings The analysis resulted in 26 crucial design principles and 8 desirable design principles. Practical implications The synthesized set of design principles provides a blueprint for designing and facilitating the development of DECoPs. Originality/value This unique synthesis of the DECoP literature provides practitioners with guidance in creating and nurturing a new DECoP.

Knowledge management and business strategy

2015 ◽  
Vol 31 (9) ◽  
pp. 25-28
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Communities Of Practice ◽  
Business Strategy ◽  
Professional Service ◽  
Service Firms ◽  
Professional Service Firms ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Architectural Practice ◽  
Competitive Edge ◽  
The One

Purpose – To investigate attitudes towards knowledge management (KM) in creative professional service firms (PSFs) and explore the role of communities of practice as a way to leverage expertise within the firm. Design/methodology/approach – Presents a single-firm case study of a medium-sized architectural practice in New Zealand. Findings – There is an old country saying along the lines that “muck and money should be spread around if they are to do any good” – and the same could very well be said about knowledge. Knowledge is an essential tool for PSFs. In areas like architecture, software development or media, being able to bring together expert creative knowledge is what gives PSFs their competitive edge. Research limitations/implications – Suggests opportunities for further research to extend the generalizability of findings by extending the study to a greater number of creative PSFs in a range of countries. Practical implications – Proposes a framework linking KM strategies based on codification and personalization with the overall business strategy of the organization through the use of communities of practice (CoPs). Social implications – Highlights the importance of CoPs as a potential source of competitive advantage for creative PSFs whose success depends on shared expertise and leveraging the knowledge contained within the business. Originality/value – Demonstrates that personalization and codification strategies for KM can be combined, focusing on the one most appropriate to the overall business strategy and using the other in a supporting role.

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