Resource Kit
Introduction to CoPs
Download Introduction to CoPs 
A Community of Practice (CoP) is defined as “a group of people who share a concern, a set of problems, or a passion
about a topic, and who deepen their knowledge and expertise by interacting on an ongoing basis.” (Wenger 2002) The three distinct elements
that compose a CoP are a
community that enables interaction (such as discussions, collaborative activities, and relationship building),
a shared
domain of interest (such as Vocabulary Standards or Outbreak Management), and a shared
practice of experiences,
stories, tools, and ways of addressing recurring problems. This approach is enabling the PHIN Community to grow and mature while focusing
on efforts in sharing knowledge and problem solving.
Although not formally termed “communities of practice,” CoPs exist across disciplines and in many domains of your personal
and professional world.
You may already be a member of a CoP through a professional affiliation, by geographical community
ties, or in an educational endeavor. Your level
of involvement in community is up to you; you may be an occasional participant n some and a leader or core member in others. For instance, any
departments of education build CoPs around domains such as curricula and teacher best practices. Medical practices form CoPs around innovations
in delivery of care or maximizing existing resources. An example of an informal, unnamed CoP is a residential homeowner’s association.
If you require assistance with accessing or using files found on this website, please contact
phin@cdc.gov for further assistance.
