Tapping Communities of Practice

This article discusses about engineers who by nature have an insatiable need to learn. Regardless of specialty, engineers are often most comfortable in an environment that includes like-minded individuals who are not afraid to push the limits to achieve something new or original. Whether they are designing the architecture for the next generation of computer chips, evaluating the barriers that must be overcome to allow human travel to Mars, or reducing the costs of staple items to raise the standard of living in an emerging nation, engineers are constantly learning, with society reaping the rewards of their efforts. Communities of practice have potential benefits for everyone involved practitioners, the organizations they work for, and the engineering profession as a whole. Communities of practice exist in nearly every organization, whether or not they are formally recognized. Companies and their management must not expect a community of practice to be the magic solution to a business problem. Inappropriate application and cooptation of communities of practice by managers can be especially damaging.