In many organizations, communities

In many organizations, communities of practice are informal
groupings that are separate from but are not in conflict with the formal
organizational structure or hierarchy. They act as parallel structures but do
not interfere with the regular responsibilities and accountabilities of staff
members. They are groups in which various areas of knowledge connect
people. In all organizations, the management structure and hierarchy may
change and projects start and will eventually end. Communities of practice
however can continue indefinitely as long as there are groups of people that
are interested in sharing knowledge. Knowledge is the continuous element
that binds the members of the community of practice together. For this
reason, communities of practice can provide that underlying layer of stability
to many organizations.