Communities of practice and creativity

In the current chapter the role of creative and innovative processes in communities of prac- tice (Wenger, 1998) are discussed. Communities of practice require trust among their mem- bers, the use of a shared repertoire of meanings and finally a common goal. Creative process- es and knowledge sharing are social phenomena among members of each community: new ideas or artifacts arises from the synergy of many sources and not only from the mind of a single person. The communities of practice are the ideal environment for the development of original and valuable ideas. The application of technologies could be a useful support for pro- moting the interaction and for facilitating what is called “tacit knowledge”, knowledge that is easily make in common through the narration of practices and experiences. Moreover, it is important to consider the conditions because very often creativity emerges spontaneously if the members of the community perceive that their proposals are listened to. The perception of a friendly and supportive environment where they can freely talk about of their feelings and life stories, thus stimulating motivation and the pleasure to share are core aspects and condi- tions. Linking the subjects of community of practices and creativity could be considered valu- able also for a wide context inducing outcomes that are generalizable.