International Relations scholarship has examined how technical knowledge boosts the performance of international organizations, but has found that it could also lead to behaviour undermining their broader goals. Research has not reconciled these contrasting observations by specifying when and how technical proficiency leads to such dysfunction. Addressing these gaps, this article examines the connections among Communities of Practice (CoPs) within the organization in linking technical knowledge with other forms of knowledge, actors and tools crucial to address the larger environment, enhancing performance. To illustrate this, the article examines the role of two CoPs, namely, the technical CoP and the diplomatic CoP, in developing and deploying African Mediation Support Structures. The research uses qualitative analysis of official documents, reports, scholarly works and semi-structured expert interviews of officials, partners and analysts. It finds that disconnections among relevant CoPs foster an excessive focus on specific sets of knowledge and tools, particularly technical knowledge, at the expense of engaging others also crucial in addressing the IOs' operating environment, leading to dysfunction. Connections among CoPs promote a holistic response to the environment, enabling the organization to function according to its mandate.

中文翻译：

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分析国际组织中技术官僚和外交官之间的分歧

国际关系奖学金研究了技术知识如何提高国际组织的绩效，但发现它也可能导致破坏其更广泛目标的行为。研究尚未通过具体说明技术熟练程度何时以及如何导致这种功能障碍来调和这些截然不同的观察结果。为了解决这些差距，本文探讨了组织内实践社区 (CoP) 之间的联系，将技术知识与其他形式的知识、参与者和工具联系起来，这对于应对更大的环境、提高绩效至关重要。为了说明这一点，本文探讨了两个 CoP（即技术 CoP 和外交 CoP）在制定和部署非洲调解支持结构中的作用。该研究使用官方文件的定性分析，报告、学术著作以及对官员、合作伙伴和分析师的半结构化专家访谈。研究发现，相关 CoP 之间的脱节导致过度关注特定的知识和工具，特别是技术知识，而牺牲了其他对于解决 IO 运营环境至关重要的问题，从而导致功能障碍。CoP 之间的联系促进了对环境的整体响应，使组织能够根据其职责运作。导致功能障碍。CoP 之间的联系促进了对环境的整体响应，使组织能够根据其职责运作。导致功能障碍。CoP 之间的联系促进了对环境的整体响应，使组织能够根据其职责运作。