Chapter 10: Learning Cultures of Communities of Practice

In this chapter, the authors highlight the critical role that culture plays in realizing any strategy. The importance of grounding learning cultures in the theory and practice of culture is emphasized. The relationships between learning cultures and knowledge and collaboration cultures are discussed. Best practice examples of learning cultures’ assumptions, beliefs, and values are cited. The authors also highlight the critical role that CoPs can play in engendering a culture of learning from mistakes.

The communities of practice (CoPs) literature is rich in discussions of sharing and the importance of achieving a shared vision, goals, and repertoire. A shared repertoire is defined as the continual development and maintenance of a shared repertoire of procedures, techniques, shortcuts, jargon, tools, forms, symbols, mental categories, actions, concepts, and their foundation. A shared repertoire is grounded in a shared culture. When we limit our focus to CoPs in an organization, we can assume there is a degree of common organizational culture – even if it is only at an espoused organizational culture level. When our focus moves beyond an organization, we are less likely to find a common culture.