Knowledge Mobilization:Research Administrators as Brokers in the New

Knowledge Systems

ByPaul J Graham, MLISHarley D Dickinson, PhDUniversity 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.