Team building, CoPs and learning groups
This page explores resources for building and managing effective teams, cultivating communities of practice, and fostering collaborative learning groups. Each section provides tools, techniques, and insights to support practitioners in creating environments where people can work together effectively and sustainably.
Team building
Managing virtual teams and meetings
This recent LfS page offers guidance on managing virtual and distributed teams, a growing trend accelerated by remote work practices. It includes annotated links to resources on facilitating effective virtual meetings and building cohesive remote teams.
Ensuring effective teams
This LfS post by Will Allen outlines a three phase approach to setting up effective teams. It highlights key aspects underpinning each phase and provides practical tips for fostering teamwork.
A checklist for evaluating team performance
Designed by Margaret Kilvington and Will Allen, this simple tool helps teams evaluate their progress and identify areas for improvement. It’s particularly useful for facilitators and team leaders.
Communities of practice
Communities of practice – a brief introduction
Etienne Wenger’s article introduces the concept of communities of practice (CoPs) as a powerful framework for knowing and learning. CoPs help organisations improve performance by fostering collaboration and innovation. This concise introduction outlines their key features and relevance across sectors.
Why Communities of Practice (CoP) are ‘Still’ Relevant for the Organizations?
This 2016 paper by Nikhil Agarwal and Ruchi Agarwal examines how CoPs have evolved into new forms like Communities of Innovation (CoInv) and Communities of Creation (CoC). It highlights their role in improving communication, profitability, and process alignment within organisations.
An introduction to Communities of Practice
Will Allen and Marina Apgar’s 2007 paper explores CoPs as social networks for collaborative learning and innovation. It discusses development stages, leadership requirements, and practical tips for sustaining CoPs over time, particularly in the context of sustainability-focused organisations.
Communities of practice and organizational performance
This IBM article demonstrates how CoPs enhance organisational performance by building social capital. It links CoP participation to outcomes like improved trust, shared language, and behavioural changes that positively impact business results.
Communities of Practice and virtual learning communities: benefits, barriers and success factors
Pat Gannon-Leary and Elsa Fontainha’s paper explores virtual CoPs and their challenges. It identifies critical success factors such as technology usability, trust, cultural sensitivity, and fostering a shared sense of purpose for sustaining virtual collaboration.
Learning groups
Creating effective collaborative learning groups in an online environment
This 2009 paper by Jane Brindley, Christine Walti and Lisa Blaschke highlights strategies for fostering collaboration in online learning groups. It focuses on instructional techniques that enhance community, skill development, and learning outcomes.
Five Elements that Promote Learner Collaboration and Group Work in Online Courses
Debbie Morrison’s 2014 article outlines universal principles for facilitating collaboration in online learning environments. It addresses common barriers and provides strategies for engaging students in group projects.
The related LfS page – Building networks for learning – provides two sets of links to resources – around how to build and map networks; and institutional approaches for working across groups and organisations, including partnerships and boundary organisations. Another page, Managing virtual teams and meetings, provides annotated links to posts that provide guidance on managing virtual and distributed teams (particularly relevant in the light of the move towards staff working from home due to the coronavirus)..
[Header image: Flickr – Ollie Harding – teamwork.]
