This is the second weekly digest for theme 8. This month’s theme is tackling the issue of “CoPs and other Networked Organisations - How to Organise your Work and Life?”

1. Online workshop with Paul Iske

on: “Inter-organisational working i.e. communities with more than one organisation represented”

About 15 people attended the online workshop lead by Paul Iske. The workshop was quite a relay chat, giving space for stimulating questions to the participants. During the workshop, Paul Iske pointed out on the following topics:

• Process/organisation: More and more in the economy, one is looking for the value chains and to integrate processes in a seamless way so that the client can be offered the best solution in the most efficient and effective way;


• Technology/Infrastructure: Quite often, the knowledge in inter-organisational processes is being transferred by using technical infrastructure like internet, extranet, EIE, etc.;


• Culture/People: People are usually the source of knowledge and people are the appliers of knowledge. Therefore, quite often it will be important that people form different organisations work together.

You can read the entire transcript here.

2. Questions and Answers with Miguel Cornejo

on: "Relevance and participation in Communities of Practice - Relaunching a CoP”
In his article, the founder of Macuarium, is arguing that relevance and participation are the key characteristics of successful communities. New questions and comments added:

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: Xavier Lepot , 13th October 2003, Clarity of objectives is key to achieve success!
”[..] For sure, CoPs are fantastic tools, with plenty’s of success stories. As any "living entities", they have a defined lifetime. When people begin repeating the same stuff during several meetings (real or virtual), efficiency and interest drop rapidly, even if repeated info is worthwhile.[..] From all these very useful tips, one is for me really key : the objectives must be clear, appealing and challenging. With new clear objectives, you can revamp an old and languishing CoP, as well as boosting a fresh new community. [..]”

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: Józefa Fawcett , 14th October 2003, CoPs can be a useful OD tool?
” The framework I have been working on has been built around healthcare groupings - using eLearning and KM to underpin their development - in geographical locations, across professional, sector and organisational boundaries.[..] Upon reflection, my key learning points:
1)The importance of managing expectations (organisational and individual perspective) cannot be over emphasised. Collaborative working goes in and out of favour and usually comes back when new governmental dictates deem it necessary. There was, in my project, a general lack of trust, openness and capacity, which of course is a vital factor.
2)Team and individual rewards in the public sector also need careful consideration I used the three specific motivational factors (after Ron Cacciope, 1999): MONEY/PRIZES/GIFTS, RECOGNITION/AWARDS, DEVELOPMENTAL/EMPOWERING [..].”

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: Miguel Cornejo, 14th October, Cops for OD
”[..] About your message, yes, CoPs can have a use for Organizational Development (as I understand it). In Health Care, you can find independent and sponsored practitioner CoPs, both internal and cross-organizational. Medical services and insurers' websites often sponsor these communities, and some regional health authorities, and even hospitals, have their own. These CoPs do have an effect on the way the organization members work and relate with their organization.[..]”

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: Patricia Wolf , 14th October, Identifying expectations
”[..] I really much like the argument that the importance of managing expectations can't be over emphasised. That's a field where we really need more and better practice. From my point of view, identifying expectations can't be done only in a kick off workshop. It needs in deep observation and integration into the organisation. The problem is that both consultants and organisations are not used to such a long process, they are keen to get quick results. For us as consultants/researchers that means that we need to develop methods, tools, skills and abilities for understanding what is behind the behaviour and the official arguments of the CoP members in a really short time frame. [..]”

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: Robert Benson , 14th October, Individual efforts are most rewarded
“[..] Having worked in communities for a few years now, and not in the consultant/researcher end, I'd say that the passion and dedication from those running the site are probably the most important factors.[..] On another point, I personally think that online communities need to think more about the 'customer journey', from welcome email to hundredth posting. Miguel's site is a good example - and I'm a supporter of personal rankings on contributions, which surely can be linked to other business incentives?[..] Another element that is important in sustaining communities is, I believe, the 'reification' process that (I think) Wenger talked about - some document, plan or event that will focus the minds of the participants/lurkers. What's your view on the business plan? Are you going to the meeting next week? And, in turn, you have to make such items compelling and relevant. [..].“

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: Miguel Cornejo , 15th October, Expectations, values, motivations
”[..] Well, I guess there are as many methods as CoP coordinators :-), or editors (yes, I think a CoP is a publication, when it produces and publishes reifications such as articles, studies, guides, event reports... and it is a very cheap and effective publication too). I'd just suggest three things: - A stable criteria for what the CoP aims to do, and how. - Ability to deliver on projects and compromises. - Be clear and consistent on what's sacred and what isn't. [..] Patricia said that "From my point of view, identifying expectations can't be done only in a kick off workshop. It needs in deep observation and integration into the organisation. The problem is that both consultants and organisations are not used to such a long process, they are keen to get quick results." I agree in part. Expectations need to be continuously managed, not just at the start: the CoP evolves, the resources and people evolve, the CoP effectiveness is reality-checked. And as more people join in, their expectations need to be brought into line so as to avoid problems. This leads to a continuous new-member information process, and to management's continuous attention to the matter in relations with all stakeholders.
Further: it's not just members and organizations who have expectations. One key part of most CoPs are volunteer facilitators [..]These expectations need to be managed (tempered, if it is not possible) and information about the details of their role must be crystal clear to prevent demotivation.”

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: Józefa Fawcett , 15th October 2003, TRUST AND COLLABORATIVE WORKING
“[..] I also feel that the ongoing identification of expectations is of great importance and would concur with you that this is something that needs to be consistent and systems adapted accordingly, as these DO change over time and in different contexts. My experience of establishing community working is limited so far to non-technological groupings where the emphasis has been on having ‘human portals’ who signpost, direct and informally facilitate a group of ever-changing participants in a healthcare setting. I think you would call these ‘volunteer facilitators’.[..]”

Join the discussion!

3. Interviews

Interview with Abbe Mowshowitz on 'Collaboration in organisations with a certain degree of virtualness'
Abbe Mowshowitz has been a professor of computer science at the City College of New York and member of the doctoral faculty at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York since 1984. In this period he has also held academic appointments at the University of Amsterdam, Erasmus University Rotterdam, and the Rotterdam School of Management.
His book THE CONQUEST OF WILL: INFORMATION PROCESS-ING IN HUMAN AFFAIRS, Addison-Wesley, 1976 was one of the earliest comprehensive studies of computers and society.
The interview has been held by Patricia from the IAT (Institute for Human Factors and Technology Management) at the University of Stuttgart.
Read the interview here.

4. This Week’s Agenda

Monday, 20.10.2003 Weekly Digest about the activities and outcomes of week 2

Tuesday, 21.10.2003 Q&A (until Monday the 3rd November; asynchronous) with Erik van Bekkum, consultant in the web based collaboration space at Efios, on ‘CoPs and Innovation’