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Knowledge Mobilization:Research Administrators as Brokers in the New
Knowledge Systems
By
Paul J Graham, MLIS
Harley D Dickinson, PhD
University of Saskatchewan
CAURA Conference
Halifax, NS, May 2008
Contents
Part 1: Knowledge System in Society– The State of things
Part 2: Knowledge Brokering– Identification of your contribution– New roles in Knowledge Management
Part 3: KM Applications– Knowledge Metrics– Unit considerations
Part 1: Knowledge System Knowledge System Management Cycle
Implementation
Production StorageRetrieval
Transfer
Utilization
Knowledge System
Holzner & Marx, 1979
Part 1: Knowledge SystemKnowledge System Management as Interface
Research Interface– Many administrators find themselves in an “Interface”
between sub-systems of academics and other university administration, such as other Research Administrators, Financial services and contracts and office representatives to name a few.
Role Development as Broker– As an interface to various stakeholders, Knowledge
Brokering comports well with the roles and responsibilities of Research Administration.
Knowledge Work Changes
Part 2: Knowledge BrokeringWhat is Brokering? Some common Characteristics
Terminology of Roles– Brokers, Boundary Spanners, Intermediaries, etc.
General Functions– Communicative Functions
Links, Connects, Manages, Networks Document to People; People to People links Sustains or maintains such structures
Types of Activity– Reactive // Proactive Brokering– Brokering forms part of the Job, not THE job
Part 2: Knowledge BrokeringLevels of Brokering Knowledge
Institutional– Research Impact (Canada)– Institute of Knowledge Transfer (Liverpool, England)– Implementation Units (British Government)– Proposed Integrated SSRL & KMO (U of S; Saskatoon)
Individual (Professional)– Community Liaison Officers (CLOs, Australia)– Consultants
Part 2: Knowledge BrokeringTypes of Brokering. – R. Havelock’s 1986 Typology
Producing or Providing Knowledge– Relay Station, Transformer, Synthesizer
Linking People or Products– Locator, Linkage Catalyst, Linkage Process
Facilitator
Application and Implementation– Implementation Assister, User System Mobilizer
Part 2: Knowledge BrokeringHighlighting the Three Important Types for RAs
Linkage Catalyst– By being the broker who facilitates Face-to-Face
meetings and finds and helps to secure resources you become the visible agent who links knowledge mobilization for your area.
Locator– Identifies unmet needs or locates the individuals who
could utilize available resources. Transformer
– Translating difficult funding documents into a success story narrative…tell your success story.
Part 2: Knowledge BrokeringRise of Knowledge Management as New Knowledge System
Knowledge Management– Knowledge management addresses the
generation, representation, storage, transfer, transformation, application, embedding, and protecting of organizational knowledge. (Hedlund, 1994)
Social and Technical Characteristics– Tacit to codified knowledge transfer– Information Systems (computer technology)
Part 2: Knowledge BrokeringRise of the Knowledge Manager as Type of Broker
Rise of Knowledge Manager– Organizing Communities– Understanding work methods– Building knowledge skills– Assessing invisible knowledge achievements– Building knowledge friendly culture
Developing Knowledge Strategies– Similar to Brokering
Tacit Knowledge Transfer Document knowledge Transfer
Part 2: Knowledge BrokeringKnowledge Manager//Broker in Health
“KM actively improves information translation and transfer by creating a dynamic interface that enables access to useful health information within a ‘community of practice’. . . Knowledge brokering is a key element in providing the right information to the right people at the right time and right place to enable more effective job completion.”
Rolls et al., 2008 Building a State Wide Knowledge Network
Part 3: KM ApplicationsKnowledge Mobilization Tools & Techniques
Bibliometric Analysis– Citation Analysis; gap analysis; Knowledge Production
System Mapping– Logic Models and Concept Mapping
Recording your Brokering Contribution– Information & KM Statistics
Educational Component– Narrative – Formal Education
Part 3: KM ApplicationsChampion Knowledge Based Management Structures
Organic System of Management– Emphasis on Lateral & horizontal flows– Based on authority of knowledge, rather than job
title– System wide approach– Job definitions are less precise and more flexible;
duties change with problem changes– Employees Identify with professional
organizations as much as organizational job description
Part 3: KM ApplicationsOrganizational Factors
Knowledge Planning Guides– Organizational Readiness; Absorptive Capacity– KT planning guides
Approaches to Cohesion – Organizational Level (Learning Organization)– Group or Unit Level (Community of Practice)– Individual Level (Dual Identity Approach)
Conclusion
Three Main Points1. Consider your role in a knowledge system
within the university2. Identify what type of brokering you’re doing
and what brokering you might facilitate3. Whether institutionally or individually,
consider the factors that provide evidence for your contribution and how they might be effectively championed.
Special Acknowledgements
Special thanks to University of Saskatchewan Research Administrators Laura Zink and Trina Evitts for their input and support in the formation of this presentation.
Special thanks also go to the CIHR who funded the “Knowledge Utilization & Policy Implementation” project; this funding helped stimulate ideas for following up on the roles involved in Knowledge Mobilization.