Application of an evaluation framework for extra-organizational communities of practice: assessment and refinement

Abstract

Communities of practice (CoPs) are groups of people who work together on an ongoing basis and share knowledge and expertise. CoPs exist both within and outside of organizations, although extra-organizational CoPs have received less evaluation attention. The primary objective of this study was to assess the applicability of a multi-level, multiple value evaluation framework for extra-organizational CoPs. We conducted qualitative interviews with an extra-organizational CoP—the Canadian Community of Practice in Ecosystems Approaches to Health (CoPEH-Canada). The evaluation framework oriented both the member interview guide and the deductive content analysis. Our findings showed that the evaluation framework was sufficiently comprehensive to capture values generated. Reflecting on our findings, we share challenges in its application and suggest revisions to the framework. We discuss limitations and strengths, evaluation research next steps, and the opportunities for future applications.