Knowledge Communities glossary

Knowledge Community A group of individuals who share a common interest, goal, or practice and collectively engage in the process of creating, sharing, and managing knowledge. Unlike a simple network, a knowledge community focuses on advancing the collective knowledge of its members through structured interaction and collaboration. A Knowledge-Building Community, a specific type, has the primary goal of knowledge creation rather than task completion . Knowledge Community Goal The overarching objective that guides the community's activities. This is typically centered on the production, distribution, and use of knowledge to advance the collective understanding of its members. For a knowledge-building community, the goal is to create new knowledge artifacts (theories, models, publications) that advance the field, rather than simply sharing existing information. Knowledge Repository A digital or physical library where the community's collective knowledge, artifacts, and resources are stored, managed, and made accessible to members. This can include documents, discussion threads, best practices, lessons learned, and other forms of codified knowledge. Community Organizer / Core Organizer An individual responsible for the coordination, facilitation, and administrative health of the community. This role is crucial for sustaining the community by organizing activities, fostering engagement, and managing logistics. Knowledge Manager A role focused on the systematic management of the community's knowledge assets. This includes curating the knowledge repository, identifying and capturing valuable tacit knowledge, promoting knowledge-sharing behaviors, and ensuring the right knowledge reaches the right people at the right time. Experts Members who possess deep knowledge, skills, or experience in the community's domain. They serve as a valuable resource, providing authoritative insights, validating information, and guiding the community's intellectual growth. Participants / Members All individuals who take part in the community. Their participation is valued at all levels, from active contribution to legitimate peripheral participation (observing and learning). A healthy community relies on a diverse range of participants. Community of Practice (CoP) A group of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better through regular interaction . The IDB defines CoPs as "strategic knowledge networks" with three core components: Domain (shared challenge), Community (network of trust), and Practice (collective know-how). Knowledge-Based Society (or Knowledge Society) A society whose processes and practices are based on the production, distribution, and use of knowledge . Epistemic Agency The capacity of community members to take responsibility for their own knowledge creation and problem-solving processes, rather than relying on an authority figure (like a teacher or manager) to direct them . Symmetric Knowledge Advance The principle that knowledge advancement is a bidirectional process; giving knowledge to the community also results in gaining knowledge. There is no single expert who solely imparts wisdom; everyone learns and contributes .