Transcript Knowledge Mobilization: - University of Saskatchewan

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
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Part 1: Knowledge System in Society
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Part 2: Knowledge Brokering
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The State of things
Identification of your contribution
New roles in Knowledge Management
Part 3: KM Applications
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Knowledge Metrics
Unit considerations
Part 1: Knowledge System
Knowledge System Management Cycle
Holzner & Marx, 1979
Implementation
Production
Knowledge
System
Transfer
Utilization
Storage
Retrieval
Part 1: Knowledge System
Knowledge System Management as Interface
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Research Interface
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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
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As an interface to various stakeholders, Knowledge
Brokering comports well with the roles and
responsibilities of Research Administration.
Knowledge Work Changes
Part 2: Knowledge Brokering
What is Brokering? Some common Characteristics
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Terminology of Roles
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General Functions
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Brokers, Boundary Spanners, Intermediaries, etc.
Communicative Functions
 Links, Connects, Manages, Networks
 Document to People; People to People links
 Sustains or maintains such structures
Types of Activity
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Reactive // Proactive Brokering
Brokering forms part of the Job, not THE job
Part 2: Knowledge Brokering
Levels of Brokering Knowledge
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Institutional
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Research Impact (Canada)
Institute of Knowledge Transfer (Liverpool, England)
Implementation Units (British Government)
Proposed Integrated SSRL & KMO (U of S; Saskatoon)
Individual (Professional)
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Community Liaison Officers (CLOs, Australia)
Consultants
Part 2: Knowledge Brokering
Types of Brokering. – R. Havelock’s 1986 Typology
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Producing or Providing Knowledge
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Linking People or Products
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Relay Station, Transformer, Synthesizer
Locator, Linkage Catalyst, Linkage Process
Facilitator
Application and Implementation
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Implementation Assister, User System Mobilizer
Part 2: Knowledge Brokering
Highlighting the Three Important Types for RAs
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Linkage Catalyst
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Locator
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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.
Identifies unmet needs or locates the individuals who
could utilize available resources.
Transformer
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Translating difficult funding documents into a success
story narrative…tell your success story.
Part 2: Knowledge Brokering
Rise of Knowledge Management as New Knowledge System
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Knowledge Management
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Knowledge management addresses the
generation, representation, storage, transfer,
transformation, application, embedding, and
protecting of organizational knowledge. (Hedlund,
1994)
Social and Technical Characteristics
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Tacit to codified knowledge transfer
Information Systems (computer technology)
Part 2: Knowledge Brokering
Rise of the Knowledge Manager as Type of Broker
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Rise of Knowledge Manager
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Organizing Communities
Understanding work methods
Building knowledge skills
Assessing invisible knowledge achievements
Building knowledge friendly culture
Developing Knowledge Strategies
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Similar to Brokering
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Tacit Knowledge Transfer
Document knowledge Transfer
Part 2: Knowledge Brokering
Knowledge Manager//Broker in Health
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“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.”
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Rolls et al., 2008 Building a State Wide Knowledge Network
Part 3: KM Applications
Knowledge Mobilization Tools & Techniques
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Bibliometric Analysis
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System Mapping
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Logic Models and Concept Mapping
Recording your Brokering Contribution
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Citation Analysis; gap analysis; Knowledge Production
Information & KM Statistics
Educational Component
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Narrative
Formal Education
Part 3: KM Applications
Champion Knowledge Based Management Structures
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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 Applications
Organizational Factors
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Knowledge Planning Guides
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Organizational Readiness; Absorptive Capacity
KT planning guides
Approaches to Cohesion
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Organizational Level (Learning Organization)
Group or Unit Level (Community of Practice)
Individual Level (Dual Identity Approach)
Conclusion
Three Main Points
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Consider your role in a knowledge system
within the university
Identify what type of brokering you’re doing
and what brokering you might facilitate
Whether institutionally or individually,
consider the factors that provide evidence
for your contribution and how they might be
effectively championed.
Special Acknowledgements
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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.