Communities and network structures
make knowledge usable across departmental boundaries
Your organization possesses knowledge that could benefit others. However, experience gained from projects, departments, and locations often remains confined to its original context. Those facing similar challenges either search for the right experts or start from scratch.
Internal communities and networks connect people who want to share their knowledge, learn from each other, and advance shared goals.
We support you in building and developing suitable networking opportunities, enabling experiences from specific areas to be shared and making it easier for people with similar questions to connect.
What kind of networking does your organization need?
Do you want to build a community, strengthen an existing network, or find out which format best suits your needs?
Bring your question to a free, no-obligation 30-minute consultation. Together, we’ll look at your current situation and discuss possible next steps.
Internal network or community: Which form of networking is suitable?
An internal network facilitates access to people and expertise. Employees know who to contact with a question, even outside their own team or department.
A community connects people who regularly engage with a shared field of expertise or practical problem. They contribute experiences, address questions, and collaboratively develop knowledge or procedures.
Which form is most suitable depends on whether people primarily need access to each other or want to work continuously on a common topic.
What internal communities are suitable for
Sharing expertise across projects and areas
Experts gain experience in different projects without regularly interacting with each other. A professional community enables them to clarify questions, further develop methods, and make best practices accessible to others.
Continuing learning in everyday work
Bringing shared topics into the organization.
New technologies, ways of working, or change initiatives often affect multiple areas. Topic and change communities connect committed employees who share experiences, develop ideas further, and act as multipliers in their respective fields.
How we support communities and networks
Clarify purpose and membership
What connects the potential members? What questions do they want to address together? And what benefits do they expect from the network?
We work with you to define the purpose and develop a vision that guides the structure and further development.
Define roles and resources
Who will handle community management and moderation? What are the core team’s responsibilities? How much time can members dedicate to community work?
We clarify responsibilities and leadership support so that engagement doesn’t depend solely on the efforts of individuals.
Recruit members and activate exchange
We facilitate the initial contact and develop formats that address the members’ questions. These can include peer exchange, case consultations, expert sessions, or collaborative work on methods and templates.
We combine digital spaces and in-person meetings according to the participants’ availability.
Ensure knowledge transfer and further development
How are findings documented and used outside the community? Which formats are proving effective? What do new members need?
Together with those responsible, we examine what from the exchange flows into the work and adapt the community to changing needs.
Unsere Leistungen im Bereich Teams
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an internal community?
An internal community connects employees who share a common area of expertise, interest, or practical problem. Its members exchange experiences and further develop knowledge for their work. They can come from different teams, departments, or locations.
What is a Community of Practice?
A community of practice connects people who work in or are involved with a shared field of practice. The focus is on practical application issues, the exchange of professional experience, and the collaborative development of methods or procedures.
Must members of a community participate voluntarily?
Personal interest in the topic is an important prerequisite for active participation. Organizations can also specifically invite employees or link community tasks to specific roles. Expectations, time commitment, and opportunities for participation should be clarified beforehand.
Does every community need a community manager?
Not every community needs a full-time community manager. However, it should be clear who organizes interaction, engages members, and oversees further development. These tasks can be shared by several people.
How can I tell if a community is successful?
Membership numbers and participation rates indicate whether the community is being used. Its value becomes apparent, for example, when members solve technical questions, reuse existing methods, or adopt new approaches in their work.
Which criteria are relevant depends on the purpose of the community.
What should I do if an existing community is hardly being used anymore?
First, it should be clarified whether the topic remains relevant to the members and what questions they currently have. Lack of time, unsuitable formats, or unclear responsibilities can also hinder participation.
Based on this, the purpose and working methods can be specifically adapted.