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Integrating Communities of Practice in Technology Development Projects

Citation

Garrety, K and Robertson, P and Badham, R, Integrating Communities of Practice in Technology Development Projects, International Journal of Project Management, 22, (5) pp. 351-358. ISSN 0263-7863 (2004) [Refereed Article]

DOI: doi:10.1016/j.ijproman.2003.08.003

Abstract

Development projects usually benefit when expertise is drawn from diverse sources, including potential users. Orchestrating the involvement of disparate groups requires finding a balance between differentiation, when teams work separately, and integration, when groups meet to exchange knowledge. This paper argues that a "community of practice" perspective can help project managers achieve this balance, by drawing attention to the assumptions, interests, skills, and formal and tacit knowledge of the different groups involved. Using a case study as illustration, we show that integration can be achieved by ensuring that the developing technology is comprehensible to all groups concerned, and that it satisfies their various interests. © 2003 Elsevier Ltd and IPMA.

Item Details

Item Type:Refereed Article
Research Division:Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services
Research Group:Strategy, management and organisational behaviour
Research Field:Innovation management
Objective Division:Economic Framework
Objective Group:Management and productivity
Objective Field:Technological and organisational innovation
UTAS Author:Robertson, P (Professor Paul Robertson)
ID Code:48277
Year Published:2004
Deposited By:Australian Innovation Research Centre
Deposited On:2007-10-03
Last Modified:2010-06-18
Downloads:0

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