WEEK 6. 6.3. Organizational units vs CofP

6.3) Wenger states "These 'communities of practice' are mostly informal and distinct from organizational units" What do you think Wenger means by an "organizational unit"?

I think Wenger means a structured unit which has a traditional hierarchy of authority when talking about ‘organizational units’. Whereas in a traditional organizational unit's drive often comes from the hierarchy of authority, a CofP is a group with no specific authorities where all members of the group are more or less equal and driven by joint desire for progress and achieving goals.
I also second Emma’s idea that a CofP is distinct from organizational units because of their flexibility: http://ezpaz.blogspot.com/2009/02/week-six-task-three.html#comments . Many of the CofP’s which I can think of are flexible in this way and the joint goals shared by members span more than one ‘organizational unit’ or officially organised group.