Success Stories - Management and Leadership Project at Management Sciences for Health
The M&L Project at MSH has a strategic objective related to knowledge synthesis and application. In pursuit of this SO, the Project has established four communities of practice (CoP). CoP topics include Performance Improvement/Organizational Development: Human Resource Management; Health Information Systems; and Leadership Development. Members are staff of MSH who are the "practitioners" in these technical topics, i.e., they provide technical assistance in these areas. The CoPs range in size from 6-15 members are they meet in person approximately once a month with interim electronic communication and occasional ½ day meetings to explore topics in depth. While USAID does not participate in these CoPs, their work is funded via USAID support to the M&L Project.
Primary Objectives
MSH staff will have opportunities to exchange, explore and synthesize growing technical knowledge.
MSH staff, consultants and partners will have ready access to synthesized knowledge on selected technical subjects.
MSH staff, consultants, and partners work more efficiently and effectively to deliver quality services through the use of knowledge folders on selected technical topics.
What Went Right...
Planning for the CoP
We selected technical topics of interest to be explored by CoPs
We researched how others had planned/implemented knowledge for development and CoPs
Launching the CoP
We worked as teams in developing a modus operandi for each CoP (the approaches differ slightly)
Planned together for achievement of a clear objective towards a product from each CoP
Sustaining the CoP
High quality and energy of interactions in the CoP meetings keeps some of the teams very involved and engaged in the process
Lessons Learned
Research knowledge for development and CoP concepts fully and work with the CoPs to clarify the goals and objectives of the effort right at the start of activities
CoPs are not very amenable to "external" management of their work
CoP leaders need (interested and available) to be able to lead the group
Organizational leadership (management) must not only bless the knowledge for development activity but must also reward the participants for their work
