5 innovative ways the Public Sector are using Knowledge Hub

We all know that online groups can make collaboration possible between people. This is most effective when the group has a clear purpose and is supported by a committed facilitation team. In time the group will provide value to both the members and the wider stakeholders involved.

There are lots of different terms used to describe online groups and communities. They tend to use the catch all definition of “communities of practice”. Through our experience, we know that this is not the case for all online groups and that there is not a one size fits all approach for the different types of groups on the Knowledge Hub.

Here are some examples of the types of online groups Public Sector organisations are creating on Knowledge Hub.

Communities of Practice

Almost all online groups will be a network of individuals with mutual interests or problems. While a community of practice may not always have a specific end goal, it is usually aimed at supporting members on an ongoing basis and helping them progress in a particular area of work. Members usually join voluntarily and contribute as and when they need to. Membership will include those who share a passion, job role or project area. Having an online space brings them together to share good practice and ideas, explore ways of working, and identify common solutions to problems.

Read our blog post on the 5 benefits of using Knowledge Hub for your Community of Practice in the Public Sector.

2. Training programmes

Creating groups specifically to support training courses and modules allows participants and facilitators to share and access course documentation, training materials and other useful resources. The library offers an organised file structure, the forum is a useful space for discussion and action learning and the wiki provides somewhere to index all course modules and materials. Having an online training space means you can also integrate webinars and video to provide and an all-round training course without the need for a physical space, which can work especially well for those who are geographically dispersed. It can also be successful for blended learning, providing an online space to keep in touch in between physical training course sessions.

Read our blog post on the 5 benefits of using Knowledge Hub to support training programmes

3. Project Groups

A project group can help the project team stay connected, collaborate effectively, and share knowledge easily. Managing a project across an organisation or multiple organisations enables teams to collaborate and coordinate their work on a project and allow the project managers, team members, and stakeholders, to access the project information at any time. The group can be used to store project-related documents, such as contracts, reports, and presentations but also allows members to share feedback, provide updates, and request support through the group. Everyone involved can stay up to date and access what they need, all from one place. 

Read our blog post on the 5 benefits of using a Knowledge Hub group to support your project 

4. Document Store Group

This is a dedicated group for members to share and access a library of content across a number of organisations. They are primarily set up to facilitate easy access and sharing of critical documents among members. The group’s members can upload, store, and manage documents in a secure, central location that can be accessed from anywhere, at any time, using any device with an internet connection. They can also collaborate on documents in real-time, sharing feedback and making changes, which helps to increase productivity and efficiency.

Read our blog post on the 5 benefits of using Knowledge Hub as a document store for your cross-organisational work

5. Working/steering groups

Setting up an online working/steering group allows those involved to become an established team quickly and easily. The terms of reference and reporting structure can be defined and agreed with everyone’s input using the wiki, and any issues can be readily discussed in the forum. Being an online working/steering group, members can receive regular and relevant updates on what content and information is being shared and discussed. As collaborative decisions can be made speedily, members no longer have to wait for the next face-to-face meeting to share helpful knowledge or raise any concerns. Using the library to store key documentation can also avoid members’ mailboxes getting swamped with content and reduces any confusion as a result of multiple document versions.

Read our blog post on the 5 benefits of using Knowledge Hub for your Working / Steering group

Key Takeaways

• Public Sector organisations are using Knowledge Hub to create various online groups, such as Communities of Practice, Training Programmes, Project Groups, Document Store Groups, and Working/Steering Groups. These groups are helping public sector professionals share knowledge, collaborate more effectively, and manage projects and documents efficiently. (Read our case studies)

• Knowledge Hub provides a secure, central location for storing and accessing critical documents, allowing members to collaborate in real-time and avoid confusion resulting from multiple document versions. Registering on Knowledge Hub to find groups of interest and connect with colleagues who share your interests and goals. (sign up)

• Setting up a group on Knowledge Hub is easy and allows you to tailor the group's purpose and structure to meet your specific needs and objectives.