1

People connecting with People

Networking• Stimulating connections• More than systems• More than current relationships• Beyond your natural boundaries• Accelerating the learning process

Getting to people who know.

SeekingTacit

Knowledge

SeekingExplicit

Knowledge

2

People connecting with People

Networks

Six Degrees of

Separation?

Organisations

Directories

Events

Work

FamilyInternet

Asking

Questions

Other?

3

People connecting with PeopleThe power of knowing people before meeting them

Business relationships flourish when personal details are shared.

BPs Connect or

Yellow Pages

Knowledge

Directories

4

Networking and Communities of Practice

Knowledge sharing communities• communities of interest• communities of practice • communities of commitment

Life cycle

Plan

Launch

Build Momentum

Sustain?

Close

Grow?

Collison, Chris., Parcell, Geoff. (2005) Learning to Fly, 2nd Ed. Capstone Publishing, London

5

Enabling Vs Delivery

Fo

rmal

ity

Value

Enablin

g

Deliv

ery

Intangible Measurable

High

Low

Communities of Practice

Communities of Commitment

6

Networking and Communities of Practice

Quick wins come from sharing what we knowGood idea to have a web site and discussion forumDecide whether the network is about individual or collective objectives or bothEstablish a clear, simple governing documentIdentify and refresh membership

Collison, Chris., Parcell, Geoff. (2005) Learning to Fly, 2nd Ed. Capstone Publishing, London

7

Networking and Communities of Practice

Meet face-to-face and allow for socialisation

Select a well respected and knowledgeable coordinator who promoted collaboration

Use support from organisations and external mentors/coaches

Keep knowledge valid, accessible and refreshed

Collison, Chris., Parcell, Geoff. (2005) Learning to Fly, 2nd Ed. Capstone Publishing, London