COMPEL Glossary / community-of-practice
Community of Practice
A community of practice (CoP) is a group of people who share a professional interest, domain, or challenge and interact regularly to deepen their knowledge, share experiences, solve problems, and develop their expertise collectively.
What this means in practice
CoPs differ from formal teams in that membership is voluntary, boundaries are fluid, and the primary value comes from the knowledge exchange rather than delivering specific outputs. For AI transformation practitioners, communities of practice provide essential peer learning, prevent isolation, and accelerate the spread of proven practices across organizational boundaries. In COMPEL, community building is a core AITGP responsibility covered in Module 3.5, Article 9, and at Level 4, Module 4.5, Article 7 addresses leading and sustaining professional communities as part of the AITP Lead's industry contribution.
Why it matters
AI transformation practitioners working in isolation lack the peer learning, diverse perspectives, and shared problem-solving that accelerate professional development and spread proven practices. Communities of practice provide essential knowledge exchange that formal training cannot replicate — the practical wisdom that comes from peers navigating similar challenges. Organizations that foster CoPs build collective intelligence that makes their entire governance practice more effective.
How COMPEL uses it
Community building is a core AITGP responsibility within the People pillar, designed during the Organize stage and sustained through subsequent cycles. Communities of practice connect practitioners across organizational boundaries, enabling knowledge sharing during the Learn stage. At the AITP Lead level, leading and sustaining professional communities is an industry contribution responsibility that strengthens the broader AI governance profession.
Related Terms
Other glossary terms mentioned in this entry's definition and context.