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A Community of Practice (CoP) is a group of employees with a common interest or working practice that solve problems and issues through an informal network that includes knowledge experts. CoPs need to evaluate how they are doing and what progress they are making. Here is a checklist developed by the Department of Navy Knowledge Management team to help a CoP evaluate its progress and assure that its objectives are aligned with organizational needs.

(All questions can be answered with a "yes" or "no" answer.)

• Does the community have a common identity? Is the identity compelling to leadership, prospective members and their functional managers?
• Is the identity aligned with the organization strategy?
• Are the members enthusiastic?
• Is the community leader a strong content expert and able to develop the community?
• Does the community have the right champion in place (i.e., a respected leader who is willing to contribute to the community)?
• Does the functional sponsor agree with the community's scope, purpose and membership?
• Do the members' functional managers agree that time away from the job is valuable?
• Do you have the right content experts to provide perspective and meaning for the members of the community?
• Does the community have a shared space and context for dialogue, advice and work?
• Are collaborative tools in place? Are members set to use them?
• Do you have enough members to keep the community alive?
• Are needed resources, for example, meeting rooms, participation in conferences, travel dollars, conference fees, etc., available to the CoP?
• Written comments should be gathered on the following topics to evaluate the effectiveness of community:
  • What do you like best about the community?
  • What do you like least about the community?
  • How would you improve the community?

Used by permission.  Department of the NAVY Knowledge Management.