Comments on: Communities of Practice http://www.stephenp.net/2005/08/10/communities-of-practice/ A specialist in inquiry-based, work-focussed, online supported learning Wed, 07 Jan 2009 02:40:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Stephen http://www.stephenp.net/2005/08/10/communities-of-practice/#comment-483 Stephen Wed, 24 Aug 2005 03:36:30 +0000 http://69.89.27.211/~stephep6/blog/2005/08/10/communities-of-practice/#comment-483 I am sure there is a lot of overlap between the role of a mentor and the role of a trajectory manager. I think, however, that the notion of trajectory is useful for several reasons. First is that it implies a dynamic process with changes in trajectory in response to changing circumstances. It is also a wider role than workplace mentor and may include some of the life coaching you describe. I agree though that there aren't many new ideas out there and much of it is around subtle nuances or simply a different way of explaining things. I also suspect I haven't dome justice to Etienne’s ideas:^) I am sure there is a lot of overlap between the role of a mentor and the role of a trajectory manager. I think, however, that the notion of trajectory is useful for several reasons. First is that it implies a dynamic process with changes in trajectory in response to changing circumstances. It is also a wider role than workplace mentor and may include some of the life coaching you describe.
I agree though that there aren’t many new ideas out there and much of it is around subtle nuances or simply a different way of explaining things. I also suspect I haven’t dome justice to Etienne’s ideas:^)

]]> By: Sarah Jones http://www.stephenp.net/2005/08/10/communities-of-practice/#comment-482 Sarah Jones Tue, 23 Aug 2005 21:34:52 +0000 http://69.89.27.211/~stephep6/blog/2005/08/10/communities-of-practice/#comment-482 Maybe it's me ... but from what you've described how is a 'trajectory manager' different from a 'workplace mentor'? Isn't it just another name? As for life coach, my friend is one and she is called upon, usually when people are at a crossroads or in fact lost, in their life, careers etc. She helps to guide them along the path or even find the path that they want to tred. Maybe it’s me … but from what you’ve described how is a ‘trajectory manager’ different from a ‘workplace mentor’? Isn’t it just another name?

As for life coach, my friend is one and she is called upon, usually when people are at a crossroads or in fact lost, in their life, careers etc. She helps to guide them along the path or even find the path that they want to tred.

]]> By: Stephen Powell http://www.stephenp.net/2005/08/10/communities-of-practice/#comment-481 Stephen Powell Sun, 14 Aug 2005 04:26:14 +0000 http://69.89.27.211/~stephep6/blog/2005/08/10/communities-of-practice/#comment-481 Agreed, the trajectory manager does not need to be in a hierarchical relationship. Nor does the person have to remain the same or be one person even, although I suspect some continuity helps. However, I would argue that there is the need for the ‘hierarchy’ in an organisation/community to cultivate the conditions that make it possible for individuals to become trajectory managers. The giving of feedback to individuals so that they can make informed decisions with understood consequences isn’t an easy task. Unless the trajectory manager is well informed about relevant issues then helping someone to understand the choices they are making is very difficult. I suspect that is why this kind of role is often taken on by someone with experience who is likely to be in a position of power and authority. I am not saying this has to be the model, but would need convincing that taking the view that we can all fulfil the trajectory manager role is realistic in most organisations/communities without a lot of work to empower everyone to fulfil that role. Agreed, the trajectory manager does not need to be in a hierarchical relationship. Nor does the person have to remain the same or be one person even, although I suspect some continuity helps.

However, I would argue that there is the need for the ‘hierarchy’ in an organisation/community to cultivate the conditions that make it possible for individuals to become trajectory managers. The giving of feedback to individuals so that they can make informed decisions with understood consequences isn’t an easy task. Unless the trajectory manager is well informed about relevant issues then helping someone to understand the choices they are making is very difficult.

I suspect that is why this kind of role is often taken on by someone with experience who is likely to be in a position of power and authority. I am not saying this has to be the model, but would need convincing that taking the view that we can all fulfil the trajectory manager role is realistic in most organisations/communities without a lot of work to empower everyone to fulfil that role.

]]> By: Richard Millwood http://www.stephenp.net/2005/08/10/communities-of-practice/#comment-480 Richard Millwood Sat, 13 Aug 2005 16:29:07 +0000 http://69.89.27.211/~stephep6/blog/2005/08/10/communities-of-practice/#comment-480 But social does not mean hierarchical nor static. But social does not mean hierarchical nor static.

]]> By: Stephen Powell http://www.stephenp.net/2005/08/10/communities-of-practice/#comment-479 Stephen Powell Thu, 11 Aug 2005 04:13:12 +0000 http://69.89.27.211/~stephep6/blog/2005/08/10/communities-of-practice/#comment-479 My notes maybe don't make this clear, the response from Etienne was in a school context. So replace teacher with trajectory manager. Is it ever a good idea to make choices in a vacuum, personally think not. That’s why I like the idea that we are fundamentally social creatures and that all interpretations of the world are made in this paradigm. "Life coach", good example Eve. I think as it is a term I could have used in the above notes but actually don't really have a clue what one is or does! My notes maybe don’t make this clear, the response from Etienne was in a school context. So replace teacher with trajectory manager. Is it ever a good idea to make choices in a vacuum, personally think not. That’s why I like the idea that we are fundamentally social creatures and that all interpretations of the world are made in this paradigm.
“Life coach”, good example Eve. I think as it is a term I could have used in the above notes but actually don’t really have a clue what one is or does!

]]> By: Eve http://www.stephenp.net/2005/08/10/communities-of-practice/#comment-478 Eve Wed, 10 Aug 2005 23:04:43 +0000 http://69.89.27.211/~stephep6/blog/2005/08/10/communities-of-practice/#comment-478 Sounds like a 'life coach' to me - now there's an example of reification in process. Sounds like a ‘life coach’ to me - now there’s an example of reification in process.

]]> By: Richard Millwood http://www.stephenp.net/2005/08/10/communities-of-practice/#comment-477 Richard Millwood Wed, 10 Aug 2005 21:05:41 +0000 http://69.89.27.211/~stephep6/blog/2005/08/10/communities-of-practice/#comment-477 "Empowerment is more than the ability to chose course x rather than y, but requires us to understand the implications of choices through social interaction with our ‘trajectory manager’." - Surely we need to know how one becomes such an esteemed individual, what progression (in-between states of becoming) there is to that status and whether we ever become confident enough to make life choices without them if we don attain that!? I suppose I like the critical friendship, but not the dependency this implies. “Empowerment is more than the ability to chose course x rather than y, but requires us to understand the implications of choices through social interaction with our ‘trajectory manager’.” - Surely we need to know how one becomes such an esteemed individual, what progression (in-between states of becoming) there is to that status and whether we ever become confident enough to make life choices without them if we don attain that!? I suppose I like the critical friendship, but not the dependency this implies.

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