Learning Light
Second Floor, Gladstone Building,
1 St James Row, Sheffield, S1 2EU
Tel +44 (0)114 223 2442; Web www.learninglight.com
6th February 2007
Learning Light explores how to build effective communities of
practice
Learning Light, a non-profit centre of excellence which highlights and
promotes best practice in the use of learning technologies in the
workplace, has produced a guide to communities of practice and
organised a seminar on the subject at the recent Learning Technologies
event in Olympia, London.
Speaking at a special seminar at the Learning Technologies conference
and exhibition at Olympia, London, on 31st January, Debbie Lawley, a
specialist in knowledge and learning who was responsible for developing
and implementing communities of practice (CoPs) within the Orange group
of companies, provided a unique perspective on establishing effective
CoPs.
"CoPs are organisational structures that enable people to gather around
knowledge so that they can grow - and innovate - around a common
topic," Lawley said.
"CoPs are becoming increasingly important because so much of our work
is becoming knowledge-based, rather than the manufacturing process
based work that was a feature of the industrial era. Since much of our
work is knowledge-based, we are not learning the knowledge that we need
fast enough - and overcoming that is a key issue in today's world," she
added.
"CoPs are not about bringing knowledge into the organisation but about
helping to grow the knowledge that we need internally within our
organisations."
Lawley explained that Orange has been examining its organisational
strategy for some five years. It has realised that, as an international
company, what makes it a successful business is that it needs to
'Orange' on the outside - in terms of its brand - and on the inside (in
terms of its bank of corporate knowledge).
"Orange wanted a knowledge and learning strategy," said Lawley. "It
didn't want to leave that sort of thing to chance.
"One key area of this strategy is building and maintaining CoPs."
Lawley added that Orange has found that CoPs work best when they are
close to the heart of the organisation. She gave three examples of this
- in product marketing; call centres, and in building the Orange
network.
"The challenge to CoPs is sustainability," observed Lawley, who
outlined the three types of CoP: for consumers, producers and
reviewers.
She concluded by urging those who build CoPs to keep the tools used
within the CoP 'engaging', and to balance the group's interaction
between online communications and all other forms of communication. Her
final words on the subject were: "Remember, for a successful CoP,
content is everything."
The seminar continued with a number of sessions to gain delegates'
views on CoPs. These sessions were facilitated by Donald Clark the
co-founder of the Epic Group who now sits on the board of various
e-learning organisations including Ufi and Learning Light; Dr Celia
Richardson, an independent learning designer with over ten years
experience working with corporations, universities and governments in
the strategy, design, development and implementation of technology and
learning solutions, and Debbie Carlton, a learning and performance
specialist, working mainly in the government sector, including the
military and emergency services.
end
Notes for Editors
About Learning Light Ltd
Learning Light is a non-profit organisation that builds relationships
between learning technology researchers, suppliers, buyers and learners
providing learner-centric information to encourage the growth of
learning technologies. By sharing comprehensive research, highlighting
successes and failures, Learning Light helps to promote the learning
technologies community.
Learning Light provides bespoke and individual services to help both
buyers and suppliers of learning technologies (e-Learning). Its current
services include:
Research Services
Providing access to expert insights, advice and guidance built on
indepth research. Helping organisations to effectively implement
learning technologies (e-Learning) and integrate them within their
workflow processes.
Membership Services
Partnering with leading thinkers in the industry and providing a
network for all interested in the field to share information,
knowledge, insight, experience and expertise, through utilising online
community tools, networking events, conferences and guru seminars.
Professional Services
Our highly experienced team offers organisations access to range of
competitively priced consultancy services supporting buyers with the
effective implementation of their learning technology (e-Learning)
requirements. And, for suppliers, helping to provide a range of
services to assist market awareness and generate growth.
In addition, Learning Light provides a comprehensive Professional
Development programme to help Learning & Development professionals
understand the significance of learning technologies in the workplace
today and how to effectively implement them within the workflow
processes of their organisation.
Sheffield-based Learning Light is supported by Yorkshire Forward, the
regional development agency for Yorkshire, and the Humber and Objective
1 South Yorkshire.
Further information from:
Mark
Pittaway/ Kay Simpson, Learning Light, 0114 201 5703
Bob Little, Bob Little Press & PR, 01727 860405
www.learninglight.com