KPI Frequently Asked Questions

Online communities are of one KPI's areas of expertise. The first questions we are usually asked:

1. How many communities can we have?

   You can have as many as you want. We recommend starting with one, while anticipating that at least two others will emerge within the first year, as a consequence of people doing work online.

2. How much does it cost?

   Our experience has provided us with reliable ways to estimate the cost for this work, which we are happy to discuss with you.

   KPI charges a flat fee on a per project or yearly basis. This fee is based upon the particular needs and goals you have for an online community of practice, the preparation required, and the process of analysis and codification of the results.

   The number of communities and the number of people who participate -- while not completely unrelated -- do not drive the cost.

3. What is included in the fee?

   The fee includes all the elements required for knowledge stewardship of your online community of practice: planning, strategy, facilitation, analysis, and technology.

4. Can people be members of more than one community?

   Yes.

5. How do we access our community?

   Communities are accessible using a web browser on a computer connected to the internet. Your organization's community will have a unique name and a customized web address: mycommunityname.polilogue.net.

   Each community member will have his or her unique, password-protected account. The community is protected using online security technologies.

6. Can other people access our community?

   Only if you give them permission. You have the ability to permit people to see only what you want them to see - from one discussion to the whole online community of practice.

7. What staffing do I provide?

   Our experience has shown us that the following staffing is crucial to the success of an online community of practice:

   • A program leader who will champion the community, drive the work, and lead by example; the person responsible for the program or project within the organization.

   • An administrative assistant/technical support person who will enjoy learning the ropes of Polilogue. This person doesn't need to be a "techie," webmaster, or IT professional -- just someone within your organization who is comfortable with computers and the internet, connected to and enthusiastic about the online community of practice, and able to grasp the features that Polilogue offers to make it work. This role is essential, although it is not a full-time job.

8. How do we start work?

   Typically your first meeting with KPI is by phone. During this conversation, we ask each other a lot of questions.

   If you wish to take the next step towards using online communities of practice, we will schedule an in-person presentation where we will demonstrate KPI's work based on our understanding of your organization and goals.

   After this presentation, if you find the opportunity compelling, we will submit a detailed proposal.

9. How long does it take to launch an online community of practice?

   It depends on how quickly you can work and how you want to launch. But a rule of thumb is somewhere between 2 weeks and 3 months.