Communities of Practice — Business Collaboration Today
What's that old saying? No man is an island? I don't know where saying that comes from, but I do know that that single phrase captures the look and feel of business collaboration in today's world. Communities of practice are no longer just an afterthought, or convenience for that matter. They are rather a modus operandi, a way of being. It is a strategy related to that old saying—no man is an island, indeed. In fact, we are all on this island together and the contributions of all of us are certainly greater than that of one or a few of us. This mentality is the face of business collaboration, and businesses the world over are seeking new and innovative ways to foster this approach among their workforce.
It's no secret these days that technology has its hands in everything, and it is leading the way in new age business collaboration as well. Thanks to numerous advancements in online interaction, businesses have been able to move toward social computing in an effort to streamline communication and information sharing for vast workforces that have a global reach. Communities of practice have become a huge part of this social computing concept.
To best understand the impact of social computing, think back to your middle school days (I'll give you a minute, some of us take longer than others). You've just been given a group assignment. You're stuck with your best friend, who is a known slacker, and 3 other no names. Let's be honest, the only decision that needs to be made is which sucker gets stuck with the brunt of the work; and depending upon the group, you're just hoping it isn't you. Now this is the magic that is provided by communities of practice. Imagine now that shortly after being grouped in with your BFF and the no-names that you are provided with an itemized list of everyone's vital statistics. You instantly know their strengths, weaknesses, interests, and abilities. Now you are not just shoveling the work off on the kid who looks the smartest, or forgets to speak up, or whatever it may be. Instead, you have a collaborative strategy that allows you to take on the project by maximizing the skills and resources of the group from minute one.
This is exactly what communities of practice provide for the business. They not only foster an uber-collaborative approach, but in some cases, they actively facilitate an employee's ability to further engage with the workforce. By providing a forum for all stakeholders, both internal and external, to engage in collaboration, these communities lead to quick and informed decision making, well-equipped employees, and an accessible knowledge-base that get the job done.
In today's business world, collaboration just makes sense and communities of practice bring with them the ability to open up the lines of communication to connect the workforce, discover and share expertise, and engage customers in the work the business is doing. No man is an island, collaborate.
About the Author
Jon Harwokey, software developer, is adding SharePoint 2010 into his team's workforce. He is a firm believer in the value of social computing and what it can add to the business. NewsGator is creating solutions for challenges faced by many businesses today when it comes to communication. With an integrated and secure platform, workers can collaborate, communicate, and improve their knowledge.
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