Understanding Brokers, Intermediaries, and Boundary Spanners: A Multi-Sectoral Review of Strategies, Skills, and Outcomes

Abstract

Background: Brokers, intermediaries, and boundary spanners (BIBS) bridge research and policy or practice, and can elevate the role of evidence in decision-making. However, there is limited integration of the literature across different sectors to understand the strategies that BIBS use, the skills needed to carry out these strategies, and the expected outcomes of these strategies. Aims and Objectives: In this review, we characterize the strategies, skills, and outcomes of BIBS across the literature in education, environmental, health and other relevant sectors. Methods: We included 185 conceptual and review papers written in English that included descriptions or conceptualizations of BIBS in the context of knowledge transfer or research use in the education, environmental, health, or other relevant sectors (e.g., social services, international development). For each included paper, we extracted and coded information on sector, BIBS strategies, skills, and outcomes. Findings: Our review revealed five strategies used by BIBS that were emphasized in the literature. Specifically, 79.5% of papers mentioned facilitating relationships, 75.7% mentioned disseminating evidence, 56.8% mentioned finding alignment, 48.6% mentioned capacity building, and 37.3% mentioned advising decisions as strategies used by BIBS. Additionally, papers described skills and expected outcomes that were common across these strategies as well as those that were unique to specific strategies. Discussion and Conclusions: We discuss implications of these findings for understanding how BIBS interface with knowledge users and producers as well as directions for future research on BIBS and the professionalization of BIBS roles.

Learning at the Boundaries of Research and Practice: A Framework for Understanding Research–Practice Partnerships

“…In an RPP, this might entail a researcher going to a community center to meet with families or a district leader preparing for a presentation at an academic conference (Wentworth et al, 2021). Individuals who move across boundaries and facilitate connections between groups are called boundary spanners or brokers (Neal et al, 2021; Weber & Yanovitzky, 2021). Within a partnership, certain individuals may emerge or be formally designated for the role (Levina & Vaast, 2005).…”

Enabling successful science‐policy knowledge exchange between marine biodiversity research and management: An Australian case study

“…Those individuals apply a suite of activities to non‐linearly link decision‐makers with researchers, facilitating or mediating their interaction so that they are better able to understand each other's goals, exchange complex knowledge, create partnerships, and promote evidence‐informed decisions (Canadian Health Services Research Foundation, 2003; Cvitanovic et al, 2017; Fazey et al, 2013; Lomas, 2007; Partidario & Sheate, 2013). Their activities comprise informing, consulting, matchmaking, facilitating, translating, building capacity and finding alignment (Cash et al, 2003; Lomas, 2007; Michaels, 2009; Neal et al, 2021; Turnhout et al, 2013).…”

Using Leadership Coaching to Strengthen the Developmental Opportunity of the Clinical Experience for Aspiring Principals: The Importance of Brokering and Third-Party Influence

“…To explore how university-based leadership coaches worked to promote the developmental opportunity of the clinical experience, we initially draw attention to the multi-faceted nature of the PPP learning-oriented social system, which includes two distinct and largely disconnected contexts—the academic and clinical settings. This attention led us to consider brokerage and brokering theory (Neal et al, 2021; Rodway et al, 2021; Stovel & Shaw, 2012) as conceptual tools. The introduction of a leadership coach as a support to the clinical experience also invites attention to the social network that is created by the aspirant, mentor principal, and coach.…”

“…Brokerage is a relevant conceptual tool for considering bridges between settings, groups, or individuals that have weak connections or where disconnection exists. The literature on brokerage (Neal et al, 2021; Rodway et al, 2021; Stovel & Shaw, 2012) refers to such disconnections as “holes” (Burt, 2000, 2001, 2007; Quintane & Carnabuci, 2016), and draws attention to individuals who occupy a bridging or boundary spanning position in these types of circumstances (Honig, 2006; Wegemer & Renick, 2021). Additionally, brokers are conceptualized as individuals who engage in behaviors to link disconnected individuals, groups, or organizations (Scott, 2000).…”