One of the things we have learnt from the development and use of the IDeA Community of Practice Platform is that a CoP can have different needs, dependent on the stage in their life cycle and their primary purpose. The role and importance of the facilitators (or moderators) in these communities cannot be overemphasised since they must ensure that the needs of the CoP are understood in order to create the appropriate environment for achieving their CoP’s goals and objectives.
The following table identifies various needs of a CoP, dependent on its primary purpose. A CoP could go through all of these various categories of need during its life-cycle. Successful facilitators will be in tune with the changing needs of their CoPs, and will provide the required support and facilities to meet these needs.
How does a facilitator know what his/her community needs at any particular point in time? Through continual engagement with community members and regular member surveys.
COMMUNITY NEEDS
Helping needs
Where members help each other to solve day-to-day issues and experts can be invited in to help.
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Best practice needs
Where developing and disseminating best practice, guidelines and procedures issued to provide instant access to validated and up to date knowledge and information. |
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Knowledge Stewarding needs
Where there is a need to organise, manage and steward a body of knowledge from which members can draw. |
Innovation needs
Where the creation of breakthrough ideas, knowledge and practices is paramount |
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Steve
I’ve noted over here http://tinyurl.com/5mdh4j that I believe your analysis – and incidently that of Anecdote in your other item – is very relevant these days to membership organisations. NCVO today organised a conference on Membership Schemes, and there was a lot of talk about the Net and the impact it will have, as people form their own communities online. Sensible organisations will get into the facilitation business to offer members a better environment than they can find in the wild
David,
thanks for the comment. I guess the key point is to never assume that all users (members) know how to effectively collaborate. For some this may be the first time they’ve tried social networking through a virtual medium, and it can be both confusing and intimidating. A good facilitator will provide a warm and inviting environment, and be sensitive to the mood and needs of the community. A facilitated community works on behalf of all of the members, whereas it’s every man (or woman) for himself (or herself) in an unbounded, unfacilitated community. Adopting your term ‘wild’, maybe we should call these ‘feral communities’!
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