ITCILO/ACTRAV COURSE A1-06025 Capacity Building for Organizing and Managing Trade Unions 13 to 24 May 2013 Community of Practice

What is a Community of Practice? An environment connecting people and encouraging the sharing of ideas and experiences. A network of individuals with common problems or interests who get together to explore ways of working, identify common solutions and share good practice and ideas. A Community of Practice: Puts you in touch with like-minded colleagues Allows you to share your experiences and learn from others Allows you to collaborate and achieve common outcomes Accelerates your learning Validates and builds on existing knowledge and good practice Provides the opportunity to innovate and create new ideas

Three Characteristics Define a CoP Domain Practice Community

Continues… Domain of knowledge which defines a common purpose Community of people who care about this domain Shared practice that they are developing to be effective in this domain

Developing Successful CoP STEP 1: Establish or identify a purpose – what problem are we trying to solve?” Ensure a degree of transparency and trust of those who: Join our list Join our forum Join our community Increasing collaboration and transparency of process

Step 2: Identify Your Community Inner Circle: Leaders and Facilitator Experts, Active Members Occasionally Active Members and Beginners

Understand the Culture and Behaviours Why does a person engage with a CoP? Attractive purpose grabs and retains attention Perceived benefits: Socialization Co-learning Knowledge sharing Co-production Each person chooses to be a member: Volition Training in – and learning!

Patterns of Contributions The 1-9-90 Rule 1% active contributors 9% occasional contributors 90% readers (aka ‘lurkers’)

Attributes of a Successful CoP Critical success factors Seekers (I need someone) Contributors (I am someone) Awareness How do I know who is out there? How can I become more known? Competence Is this person competent? How do I advertise my skills? Benevolence Will this person help me? How do I develop my recognition as a trusted member? Motivation Do I want to work with this persons? Access How do I approach this person? Skills Does the CoP have tools to collaborate effectively? Mechanism De we have a method to collaborate?

Building an Environment to Support Collaborative Working Find and connect with experts Find and connect with your peers Find and connect with threaded discussion forums, webinars, wikis, blogs, document repository Follow event calendar, news feeds, news and news letters, etc.

What Makes a Successful Community? Clear governance agreement (goal, objectives, functions, membership, decision-making & resolving conflicts) Committed core group of active participants Analysis of the type of assistant needed for attainment of goal, objectives and targets Safe and trusted environment Uniting the needs of participants

Continues… Clear action plan with activities to address felt needs Quality of evidence (credibility and legitimacy) Making use of informal links & complementing official structures This can all be achieved by good, active facilitation.

What are the Attributes of a Good Facilitator/Coordinator Creates a safe working environment in which members can contribute their thoughts and ideas. Gets agreement through consensus on desired outcomes/agenda. Supports ways to proceed and checks for agreements, as a process advocate. Makes sure everyone has a chance to participate. Promotes respectful listening. Keeps discussions and interactions orderly and on track. Ensures that time is monitored and information is recorded.

Continues… Listens and observes. Defend others from personal attack. Knows when and how to get others to perform the facilitating and recording functions. Balances process and content focus. He/she must be a person of desirable attitude and a pleasant manner of dealing with other people. He/she must be patient and preserving. He/she must be demonstrated i.e. ability to communicate, manage and lead a group.

Any Questions?