Cultivating Communities of Practice: A Guide to Managing Knowledge

The authors have done an impressive work collecting best practices from industries. The book is a good textbook for all KM and OD practitioners to consider in learning about CoP. However, as one of the reviewers have noted, it does not tell you the steps in nurturing a CoP since human behaviours differ among (as well as WITHIN) organisations. The book does however provide a clear definition of how a working CoP would look like. Readers who are keen on KM should read other works on social network to complement the learning. At the heart of any CoP is social dynamics. Understanding that will help to create CoP that is sustainable and useful to the organisation.

This is one of the classics in the field of communities of practice, and deservedly so. I would consider it a "must-read" for anyone who wants to know more about how communities work. However, it's not a novice's book; it won't provide the nuts-and-bolts, step-by-step directions you may want if you are just getting started with communities of practice.

This book, just published by "the three musketeers of Communities of Practice", is a practical guide to managing knowledge. What makes this book special is that it goes far beyond the simple explanation and advocacy for communities of practice, which we have all been reading about for the last five years. Through in-depth cases from firms such as DaimlerChrysler, McKinsey & Company, Shell, and the World Bank, the authors expand on many practical aspects one should have in mind when engaging in a community development: The "seven principles", the "five development steps" are presented in practical terms and with great details so that they can be used as a framework for all practitioners. The approach to "cultivating" and nurturing communities, as opposed to "managing" them, is also explained so that managers will hopefully resist the urge to try and control them using mechanistic mental models. At last, the question of measuring value creation for organizations is addressed in convincing and, again, practical ways.There is also some wisdom in this book. The "dark side" of communities of practice is also addressed. If unproperly managed, communities of practice can indeed create isolation, collusion, or tensions, which can be quite destructive for community members and sponsoring organizations.This book is an essential reading for any leader in today's knowledge economy. It will undoubtedly remain as a reference for all of us practitioners who want to develop communities of practice for the benefit and long-term success of organizations and their employees.

You may know the privilege of working with a group that chooses to interact on an on-going basis, that builds on the strengths of its members, that is both highly motivated and productive. This book delves into what allows those groups and communities to thrive. It answers the question: How do you create work communities that discover their own fire, create their own magic? The authors draw on their extensive experience and research to take us into work communities around the world. Their many case examples allow us to see what actually happens in these groups; their models, concepts, and processes tell us what we can do to build our own successful communities. This is the most practical book on communities of practice and knowledge management that I've seen so far-and from three founders of the field.