Paiva Tynjala

A Learning Network Promoting Knowledge Management
learning networks between workplaces and research institutes.

Wanting to develop knowledge management practices within organisations.

Characteristics of a learning network:
-interaction between participants
-shared objects - view and vision
-meta knowledge, awareness of whoo knows what and where you can find knowledge
-participation
-learning processses and learning outcomes

Listening to this talk I am wondering about the differences between this learning network and a COP. Ths network seems to be very formal and a constructed network rather than a community. This may of course change over time.

Participants in the learning network mainly saw learning as acquisition and participation with only a few seeing learning as knowledge creation.

network members were from various organisations from a range of industries. After 8 months changes of practice were not yet visible, but some changes in conceptual understanding were emerging.

Participants are not meeting between network forums, a project consultant is visiting the organisations. Within the organisations however, there is a group from each. Each organisation has developed it's own project, when the network comes together there is a layer of meta-learning that is of benefit to the participants although their projects are very divergent.

Project is part of a larger program by the Finnish Workplace Development Program, from the Ministry of Labour.