Communities of practice and networks: reviewing two perspectives on social learning

This paper examines two different approaches used to describe and analyse similar phenomena: ‘networks for learning’ and ‘communities of practice’. These approaches are both prevalent in the development discourse but they come from different traditions and strands of thinking. Nonetheless, they both offer a rich and stimulating perspective on how individuals and organisations are working together within the development process. The purpose of this article is mixed. Firstly, we aim to summarise current thinking on of both these approaches with the aim of making them both more accessible to development practitioners. Secondly, we will explore the similarities and differences between the two, aiming to establish linkages between the two. Thirdly, based on these linkages, we hope to be able to reconcile them to some extent as a way of getting the best out of them both. We will also be looking at the similarities and the differences between these approaches. Where is the challenge for development practice related to these concepts of social learning? The paradigm of communities of practice comes from the knowledge management literature, which has its origin in business. Networks for learning are derived from the development literature and for that reason are ostensibly better suited to the development sector. Although these differences are striking, there are a number of similarities between these paradigms. The first part of this paper on the development context illustrates that there is an increasing number of online communities and networks in development which are seen as a source of innovation in development and are receiving heavy investments from donors and other development organizations. Despite this optimism that such communities/networks have a role to play in development, they are a fairly new phenomenon and there has been no inventory of these networks/communities, there are few conclusions about their general characteristics and little reflection on how they are growing. Next, the second part will take a closer look at communities of practice: an introduction to the concept; characteristics of successful communities of practice; the theoretical background; and the importance of communities of practice for development. The third part will then provide an introduction to networking for learning; characteristics of successful networks; the theoretical background;