Use of Electronic Communities of Practice

(e-CoPs) in Creating Collaborative Advantage:

the Experience of InspireNet,

BC’s Nursing Health Services Research Network.

Presentation at 16th Annual Ethel Johns Research DayFebruary 5, 2011

Co-leaders:Co-leaders:

Noreen Frisch, PhD, RNNoreen Frisch, PhD, RN

Grace Mickelson, MA, RNGrace Mickelson, MA, RN

Manager:Manager:Pat Atherton, BCom, MPAPat Atherton, BCom, MPA

Supported by

BC Nursing Research Initiative (BCNRI)

Funded by

Michael Smith Foundationfor Health Research (MSFHR)

2009-2013

InspireNet VisionInspireNet Vision

• Vibrant and interactive network of individuals and organizations

• Working collaboratively to advance and use research and knowledge to improve nursing health services in BC 

 

Mission:Mission: Build Collaborative A Build Collaborative Advantagedvantage

 [

From this

To this

Goals: By 2013…Goals: By 2013…

Key Strategies & TacticsKey Strategies & Tactics

Profile: 15 Months Old!Profile: 15 Months Old!

• 618 members• 376 from health sector

• 198 from academic sector

• 18 from out of province

• 12 active teams

Participation Model:Participation Model: “Legitimate Peripheral” “Legitimate Peripheral” → →

Active Leadership Active Leadership

Use / build database

Attendevents

Action Team Members: topic-specific learning

Core members lead eCoP & InspireNet activities:- eCoP, WebEx, support from InspireNet Management Team

Focus for Today: Action & Focus for Today: Action & Coordinating TeamsCoordinating Teams

Work of our Action Teams is to facilitate:

Action Teams MembersAction Teams Members

Work of our Coordinating Work of our Coordinating TeamsTeams

Provide infrastructure and support for the ‘actions’ & ‘activities’

Coordinating Teams & Coordinating Teams & Governance MembersGovernance Members

Concepts GuidingConcepts Guiding Action & Coordinating Teams Action & Coordinating Teams

Community of Practice (CoP)

• originally developed by Lave and Wenger:• Learning takes place in social relationships

rather than through the simple acquisition of knowledge (Li et al, 2009)

• People come into CoP because of shared interests

Community of Practice (CoP)

• originally developed by Lave and Wenger:• Learning takes place in social relationships

rather than through the simple acquisition of knowledge (Li et al, 2009)

• People come into CoP because of shared interests

Communities of Practice

Definition:

‘groups of people who share a concern, a set of problems, or a passion about a topic, and who deepen their knowledge and expertise in this area by interacting on an ongoing basis’

Wenger, et al, 2001

Definition:

‘groups of people who share a concern, a set of problems, or a passion about a topic, and who deepen their knowledge and expertise in this area by interacting on an ongoing basis’

Wenger, et al, 2001

Electronic Electronic Communities of Practice Communities of Practice

• Emerged through the use of information technologies that connect people virtually

• eCoPs essential to InspireNet’s mission:– connecting people province-wide and

beyond

• Emerged through the use of information technologies that connect people virtually

• eCoPs essential to InspireNet’s mission:– connecting people province-wide and

beyond

eCoPs Develop Over Time eCoPs Develop Over Time

• Like all communities and social networks, an eCoP takes time to develop

• Starts with a core

and then grows!

• Like all communities and social networks, an eCoP takes time to develop

• Starts with a core

and then grows!

CoP Life Cycle Phases CoP Life Cycle Phases

• Potential

• Coalescing • Maturing

• Stewardship

• Transformation

• Informal network, develops focus

• Establishes value of knowledge sharing and support

• Clarifies focus and is actively working

• Sustains momentum; attains cutting edge

• Work and specific contributions are done

eCoPs need support! eCoPs need support!

Computer support

People support

Computer support

People support

Support for Action &Support for Action &Coordinating TeamsCoordinating Teams

Teams:Teams: What to develop? What to develop?

Team e-Collaboration Team e-Collaboration ToolsTools

Web 2.0 & e-CoP DesignWeb 2.0 & e-CoP Design

Current State of TeamsCurrent State of Teams

Barriers encountered Barriers encountered (and addressed)(and addressed)

Technological

•Users need help with entering the system and navigating the webpages

•Participants of WebEx meetings need instructions to log in, communicate

Technological

•Users need help with entering the system and navigating the webpages

•Participants of WebEx meetings need instructions to log in, communicate

Current eCoP UseCurrent eCoP Useby Teams by Teams

• Using Google Analytics:

eCoPs’ hits (May 2010-January 2011) range from a high of 446 to a low of 119

• eCoPs use WebEx to communicate, and to record sessions for asynchronous participation.

• eCoP members come from across the province from both academic and health care sectors; all health authorities’ regions are represented.

• Using Google Analytics:

eCoPs’ hits (May 2010-January 2011) range from a high of 446 to a low of 119

• eCoPs use WebEx to communicate, and to record sessions for asynchronous participation.

• eCoP members come from across the province from both academic and health care sectors; all health authorities’ regions are represented.

As Teams Mature…As Teams Mature…

They will: • Increase their productivity

• Require different support

• Define and achieve their goals

• Transform: new purposes and goals, or end their usefulness for the members

They will: • Increase their productivity

• Require different support

• Define and achieve their goals

• Transform: new purposes and goals, or end their usefulness for the members

What we know now:What we know now:

• Team leader(s) must be committed & willing to learn eCoP use

• Webpages and systems must be user-friendly and intuitive

• Nurse-users require development of technological skills

• All participants require clarification on laws related to copyright sharing of information

• Support needs to be available daily • Action team leaders need their own support

• Team leader(s) must be committed & willing to learn eCoP use

• Webpages and systems must be user-friendly and intuitive

• Nurse-users require development of technological skills

• All participants require clarification on laws related to copyright sharing of information

• Support needs to be available daily • Action team leaders need their own support

TimelinesTimelines

• 33 months to go within our current project; evaluation is ongoing

• It has taken one year to launch Action & Coordinating Teams using the eCoP approach

• 33 months to go within our current project; evaluation is ongoing

• It has taken one year to launch Action & Coordinating Teams using the eCoP approach

EvaluationEvaluation

• Continuing in partnership with the UBC eHealth Strategy office

• Embarking on surveys/interviews and other methods

• We’ll have more to report in the future!

• Continuing in partnership with the UBC eHealth Strategy office

• Embarking on surveys/interviews and other methods

• We’ll have more to report in the future!

ReferencesReferences

• Bourhis, A., Dube, L. & Jacob, R. (2005). The Success of Virtual Communities of Practice: The Leadership Factor. Electronic Journal of Knowledge Management, 3(1), 23-34.

• Li, L., Grimshaw, J.M., Nielsen, C., Judd, M., Coyte, P.C.,  & Graham, I.D.  (2009).  Evolution of Wenger's concept of community of practice.  Implementation Science, 4:11. 

• Mousavidin, E., & Goel, L. (2009). A Life Cycle Model of Virtual Communities. Proceedings of the 42nd Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences.

• Wenger, E., McDermott, R., & Snyder, W. (2002). Cultivating Communities of Practice. Boston: Harvard Business School Press.

• Wenger, E., White, N., & Smith, J. (2009) Digital Habitats: Stewarding Technology for Communities. Portland, OR: CPsquare.

For more informationFor more information

Visit us!

www.inspirenet.ca

Thank you to our 618 members!