TY - JOUR
T1 - Network Wisdom
T2 - The Role of Scaffolding in Expanding Communities of Practice and Technical Competencies in Community Networks
AU - Lithgow, Michael
AU - Garrison, Philip
AU - Jang, Esther Han Beol
AU - Pace, Nicolas
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Canadian Institute for Studies in Publishing Press. All rights reserved.
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - Background: One of the key tensions to emerge from research on community owned and operated information and communications technology networks ("community networks") is why some networks flourish while others fail. Analysis: These findings are based on interviews with 15 community network participants from four rural community networks in Córdoba, Argentina. Community network longevity is shaped by practices of scaffolding-knowledge sharing practices that expand what Etienne Wenger describes as "fields of negotiability" within communities of practice. Conclusion and implications: Network longevity was supported by scaffolding practices that decentralized technical capacities while encouraging deeper involvement among network participants. The network wisdom demonstrated in these cases appears to offer a promising strategy for community networks struggling to achieve longevity.
AB - Background: One of the key tensions to emerge from research on community owned and operated information and communications technology networks ("community networks") is why some networks flourish while others fail. Analysis: These findings are based on interviews with 15 community network participants from four rural community networks in Córdoba, Argentina. Community network longevity is shaped by practices of scaffolding-knowledge sharing practices that expand what Etienne Wenger describes as "fields of negotiability" within communities of practice. Conclusion and implications: Network longevity was supported by scaffolding practices that decentralized technical capacities while encouraging deeper involvement among network participants. The network wisdom demonstrated in these cases appears to offer a promising strategy for community networks struggling to achieve longevity.
KW - communities of practice
KW - community networks
KW - fields of negotiability
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85130367253&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.22230/cjc.2022v47n2a4235
DO - 10.22230/cjc.2022v47n2a4235
M3 - Journal Article
AN - SCOPUS:85130367253
SN - 0705-3657
VL - 47
SP - 271
EP - 291
JO - Canadian Journal of Communication
JF - Canadian Journal of Communication
IS - 2
ER -