Knowledge brokering in public health: a tale of two studies

Traynor, Robyn; DeCorby, Kara; Dobbins, Maureen

doi:10.1016/j.puhe.2014.01.015

Cited by 62 publications

(113 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…In this era of increasing accountability for social services, there has been an ongoing search for ways to model evidence-informed practice, create learning environments, construct knowledge-sharing communities, and promote a culture of ongoing practice improvement to support the capacities of practitioners to integrate research and practice (Austin, Dal Santo, & Lee, 2012;Gray, 2009;Plath, 2014;Raffel, Lee, Dougherty, & Greene, 2013). Some of the knowledge brokering tasks needed to strengthen the development of learning organizations include the capacity to (1) identify, evaluate, and translate research for use in different practice settings (Jackson-Bowers, Kalucy, & McIntyre, 2006;Lomas, 2007;Meyer, 2010;Waring, Currie, Crompton, & Bishop, 2013); (2) apply relevant research to specific practice settings (Jackson-Bowers et al, 2006;Kramer, Cole, & Leithwood, 2004;Lomas, 2007;Meyer, 2010;Waring et al, 2013); (3) build research-focused relationships between practitioners and researchers (Jackson-Bowers et al, 2006;Lomas, 2007;(4) build the research capacity of staff (Meyer, 2010;Rivard et al, 2010;Traynor, DeCorby, & Dobbins, 2014); and (5) manage research resources and data (Jackson-Bowers et al, 2006).…”

Section: Link Officers As Boundary-spanning-knowledge Brokersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Supporting Evidence-Informed Practice in Human Service Organizations: An Exploratory Study of Link Officers

Graaf

McBeath

Lwin³

et al. 2016

Human Service Organizations: Management, Leadership & Gover

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Human service organizations seeking to infuse research and other forms of evidence into their programs often need to expand their knowledge sharing systems in order to build their absorptive capacities for new information. To promote their engagement in evidence-informed practice, human service organizations can benefit from connections with intermediary organizations that assist with the dissemination and utilization of research and the use of internal knowledge brokers, called link officers. These boundaryspanning individuals work to embed external research and internal evidence in order to address current organizational priorities and service demands. This exploratory study describes the characteristics, major activities, and perceptions of link officers connected with three pioneering intermediary organizations. Quantitative and qualitative data from a survey of 137 Canadian and UK link officers provide a profile of these professionals, including how they engage practitioners to promote evidence-informed practice and the degree to which they are supported within their organizations and by intermediary organizations. The article concludes with practice and research implications for the development of the link officer role in human service organizations.

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Section: Link Officers As Boundary-spanning-knowledge Brokersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Supporting Evidence-Informed Practice in Human Service Organizations: An Exploratory Study of Link Officers

Graaf

McBeath

Lwin³

et al. 2016

Human Service Organizations: Management, Leadership & Gover

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“…139 If this capacity to learn, demand and generate new knowledge for the purposes of improvement is absent, then the impact of a KIT agent or knowledge broker is likely to be limited. Traynor et al 148 concluded that the use of knowledge brokers had increased both individual capacity (improved knowledge searching, appraisal and application skills) and organisational capacity (management support and policies) of the target group.…”

Section: Context Factorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…patience and approachability). 148 This includes their role and seniority within the organisation and how they are perceived by others; for example, 66 Soper et al 44 note the importance of 'understanding each other's incentives and constraints'. However, the skills and attitudes of the KIT agent or knowledge broker are a recurrent theme in the literature.…”

Section: Individual Dispositionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Getting the most out of knowledge and innovation transfer agents in health care: a qualitative study

Bullock

Barnes

Morris³

et al. 2016

Health Serv Deliv Res

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BackgroundKnowledge and innovation transfer (KIT) is recognised internationally as a complex, dynamic process that is difficult to embed in organisations. There is growing use of health service–academic–industry collaborations in the UK, with knowledge brokers linking producers with the users of knowledge and innovation.AimFocusing on KIT ‘agent’ roles within Academic Health Science Networks in England and Partnerships in Wales, we show how individual dispositions, processes and content contribute to desired outcomes.MethodsWe studied the KIT intentions of all Academic Health Science Networks in England, and the South East Wales Academic Health Science Partnership. Using a qualitative case study design, we studied the work of 13 KIT agents purposively sampled from five networks, by collecting data from observation of meetings, documentation, KIT agent audio-diaries, and semistructured interviews with KIT agents, their line managers and those they supported (‘Links’). We also used a consensus method in a meeting of experts (nominal group technique) to discuss the measurement of outcomes of KIT agent activity.FindingsThe case study KIT agents were predominantly from a clinical background with differing levels of experience and expertise, with the shared aim of improving services and patient care. Although outside of recognised career structures, the flexibility afforded to KIT agents to define their role was an enabler of success. Other helpful factors included (1) time and resources to devote to KIT activity; (2) line manager support and a team to assist in the work; and (3) access and the means to use data for improvement projects. The organisational and political context could be challenging. KIT agents not only tackled local barriers such as siloed working, but also navigated shifting regional and national policies. Board-level support for knowledge mobilisation together with a culture of reflection (listening to front-line staff), openness to challenges and receptivity to research all enabled KIT agents to achieve desired outcomes. Nominal group findings underscored the importance of relating measures to specific intended outcomes. However, the case studies highlighted that few measures were employed by KIT agents and their managers. Using social marketing theory helped to show linkages between processes, outcomes and impact, and drew attention to how KIT agents developed insight into their clients’ needs and tailored work accordingly.LimitationsLevel of KIT agent participation varied; line managers and Links were interviewed only once; and outcomes were self-reported.ConclusionsSocial marketing theory provided a framework for analysing KIT agent activity. The preparatory work KIT agents do in listening, understanding local context and building relationships enabled them to develop ‘insight’ and adapt their ‘offer’ to clients to achieve desired outcomes.Future workThe complexity of the role and the environment in which it is played out justifies more research on KIT agents. Suggestions include (1) longitudinal study of career pathways; (2) how roles are negotiated within teams and how competing priorities are managed; (3) how success is measured; (4) the place of improvement methodologies within KIT work; (5) the application of social marketing theory to comparative study of similar roles; and (6) patients as KIT agents.FundingThe National Institute for Health Research Health Services and Delivery Research programme.

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“…As mentioned, despite the arguments in favour of knowledge brokering, it is well recognised in the literature that the role, scope and effectiveness of knowledge brokering, and in particular, organisational forms of knowledge brokering, are little understood (see for example Newman, 2014;Traynor et al, 2014). More specifically, the following critical elements have not been adequately addressed in the literature:…”

Section: Structure Of Thesismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Despite the frequent acknowledgement in the literature of the potential of knowledge brokering, it is equally acknowledged that the role, scope and effectiveness of knowledge brokering, and in particular organisational forms of knowledge brokering, are little understood (Cooper, 2014;Newman, 2014;Traynor, DeCorby, & Dobbins, 2014) In light of these observations, the key question I have investigated is:…”

Section: Chapter One -Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Knowledge Brokering: Bridging the gap between academia and policy making in Australia?

Bell¹

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Knowledge brokering is showing significant potential as a means of increasing the use of research in policy making. Using research to inform policy making is critical to achieving policies that are 'evidence-based' and result in policy outcomes that have greater potential to address the 'wicked' social problems that governments are facing. Research provides governments with the knowledge to make sense of policy problems, develop policy solutions and evaluate their effectiveness. Despite extensive attention given to better understanding the barriers and facilitators to research utilisation, the use of research to inform policy decisions remains elusive.Advocates of a close relationship between the 'two communities' of policy makers and researchers believe this relationship is the key to effective policy formulation based on sound research.Knowledge brokering is emerging as a promising means of linking, and facilitating exchange, to form effective relationships between the 'two communities' of academics and policy makers, building on interactive models of the policy making process. More specifically, knowledge brokering is the human component of knowledge mobilisation, using relationships to move knowledge between policy makers and academics. In doing so, knowledge brokering works to overcome the barriers that hinder research utilisation.While there has been an increased interest in the past decade in understanding and defining the activities of knowledge brokering, the role and effectiveness of knowledge brokering in moving research into the policy making process is unclear. Furthermore, much of the focus in the literature to date is on knowledge brokering activities carried out by individuals, but the dependence of these knowledge brokering activities on the organisational context in which these individuals operate has largely been ignored in the literature. Hence, the study of knowledge brokering organisations may be very important in understanding how knowledge can be effectively transferred between knowledge producers and users.To address the research problem, two separate yet related research components were undertaken, and these research components are described across three core sections of this thesis. Part A of the thesis provides the essential conceptualisation and operationalisation of the research questions based on current debates within the extant literature on knowledge mobilisation and knowledge brokering. Part B of the thesis analyses surveys and in-depth interviews with policy officials and social scientists to make conclusions on the perceived need for, and existence of, knowledge brokering roles and activities in the movement of knowledge into the policy making process in ii Australia. A typology of organisations that operate in a knowledge brokering capacity in Australia has been developed. Part C adopts a multiple-case study design to investigate one type of entity operating in a knowledge brokering role within key public policy areas in Australia -researchfocused intermediary organi...

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Knowledge brokering in public health: a tale of two studies

Cited by 62 publications

References 54 publications

Supporting Evidence-Informed Practice in Human Service Organizations: An Exploratory Study of Link Officers

Supporting Evidence-Informed Practice in Human Service Organizations: An Exploratory Study of Link Officers

Getting the most out of knowledge and innovation transfer agents in health care: a qualitative study

Knowledge Brokering: Bridging the gap between academia and policy making in Australia?

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