Chapter 12: Domain, Purpose, and Goals of Communities of Practice

In this chapter, the authors expand the definition of the domain, drawing from the literature on professions, career development, sectors, and educational sciences. They expand the traditional definition of the domain beyond boundaries, scope, and identity to include 10 additional factors found across the literature. The chapter also considers how the domain influences and sometimes impedes the development of the other three components of the model.

Domains are where many communities of practice (CoPs) originate. It is entirely natural and expected that communities will come together to address problems or situations that naturally arise in a domain. Domains provide natural boundaries and, in most cases, have an established identity. Domains have a common vocabulary, often a common knowledge base, and ways of doing things. Perhaps most important for CoPs domains representing practices, professions, and the trades, they also have a way of learning things. Established ways of teaching and instructing shape the way domain members think and learn.