Knowledge Mobilization: Research Administrators as Brokers in the New Knowledge Systems

1. 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

2. 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

3. Part 1: Knowledge System Knowledge System Management Cycle Production Holzner & Marx, 1979 Storage Retrieval Knowledge System Implementation Transfer Utilization

4. 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.

5. Knowledge Work Changes

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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.

10. 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)

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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)

16. Conclusion Three Main Points • 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.

17. 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.