Role Of Brokers Research Articles

Building an Engaged Himalayan Sustainability Science

The Himalayan region is facing a new crisis under climate change, rapid economic transformation, and escalating geopolitical tensions. A large body of Himalayan sciences has endeavored to understand this challenge but has failed to engage meaningfully with the local people and policymakers. I argue for a new engaged Himalayan sustainability science that not only understands and interprets the emerging challenges but also strengthens societal capability.

Understanding the uptake of a clinical innovation for osteoarthritis in primary care: a qualitative study of knowledge mobilisation using the i-PARIHS framework

BackgroundOsteoarthritis is a leading cause of pain and disability worldwide. Despite research supporting best practice, evidence-based guidelines are often not followed. Little is known about the implementation of non-surgical models of care in routine primary care practice. From a knowledge mobilisation perspective, the aim of this study was to understand the uptake of a clinical innovation for osteoarthritis and explore the journey from a clinical trial to implementation.MethodsThis study used two methods: secondary analysis of focus groups undertaken with general practice staff from the Managing OSteoArthritis in ConsultationS research trial, which investigated the effectiveness of an enhanced osteoarthritis consultation, and interviews with stakeholders from an implementation project which started post-trial following demand from general practices. Data from three focus groups with 21 multi-disciplinary clinical professionals (5–8 participants per group), and 13 interviews with clinical and non-clinical stakeholders, were thematically analysed utilising the Integrated Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services (i-PARIHS) framework, in a theoretically informative approach. Public contributors were involved in topic guide design and interpretation of results.ResultsIn operationalising implementation of an innovation for osteoarthritis following a trial, the importance of a whole practice approach, including the opportunity for reflection and planning, were identified. The end of a clinical trial provided opportune timing for facilitating implementation planning. In the context of osteoarthritis in primary care, facilitation by an inter-disciplinary knowledge brokering service, nested within an academic institution, was instrumental in supporting ongoing implementation by providing facilitation, infrastructure and resource to support the workload burden. ‘Instinctive facilitation’ may involve individuals who do not adopt formal brokering roles or fully recognise their role in mobilising knowledge for implementation. Public contributors and lay communities were not only recipients of healthcare innovations but also potential powerful facilitators of implementation.ConclusionThis theoretically informed knowledge mobilisation study into the uptake of a clinical innovation for osteoarthritis in primary care has enabled further characterisation of the facilitation and recipient constructs of i-PARIHS by describing optimum timing for facilitation and roles and characteristics of facilitators.

The Role of Management and Strategy in the Development of E-Marketing

Background: Internet is a global network that can be accessed through computers, mobile phones, PDA, digital TVs etc. The number of Internet users is constantly growing, and internet communications have become routine. The use of internet by companies to provide their products and brand is commonplace and even inevitable. This paper is focused on marketing by high-speed and low-cost internet. Emarketing refers to all efforts in terms of adjusting and developing marketing strategies in virtual spaces including, web, social media etc. Big and powerful internet marketing websites do not make small internet websites disappear but enable them to gain competitive advantage by market segmentation strategy. When a customer visits a website (websites), he leaves a trace of data called digital footprint that can be used to know and understand the customer requirements, desires and requests as well as improve and enhance the web. The e-marketing real position can be seen by an online survey on Iran retailers and two deep and accurate interviews. Objective: This paper is focused on marketing by high-speed and low-cost internet. Method: When a customer visits a website (websites), he leaves a trace of data called digital footprint that can be used to know and understand the customer requirements, desires and requests as well as improve and enhance the web. The e-marketing real position can be seen by an online survey on Iran retailers and two deep and accurate interviews. Results: E-markets and online orders are amongst common ways of customer affairs management in many commercial organizations and institutions. : E-marketing is not only a specific performance related to selling products and services but also a managerial process to manage the relationship between the organization and customer. Conclusion: E-marketing performance can be introduced and categorized in three parts: 1. Integration: e-marketing involves all selling stages by the company as well as the company agents, as an integrated process. 2. Mediation: e-marketing controls the amount of customers’ demands and requirement by the amount of production and the service provider capacity of the company. 3. Brokerage: e-marketing plays a broker role among different parts of the company including financial sectors and foreign investors. Smart marketing processes should always focus on the necessary relationships between e-marketing processes and data-mining techniques to develop specific marketing strategies on the internet. Today, the access to the information is no longer a major benefit of the organizations, but the optimal use of the information is the senior managers’ main concern. It cannot be possible unless it is based upon the integrated and efficient systems in a way that it can cover all the organization’s activities and provide customers with the information in due time. With the high-speed internet and people turning to easier and more comfortable life, they can shop online. We found that market segmentation provided unexpected strategies to win the competition with small websites and our analyses showed that small websites could increase their share in the market, stay in the competition or win by market segmentation.

Information brokerage in Caribbean coral reef governance networks

SummaryPoor connectivity between diverse resource users and complex wider governance networks is a challenge in environmental governance. Organizations that ‘broker’ interactions among these relationships are expected to improve governance outcomes. Here, we used semi-structured interviews and social network analysis to identify actors in positions to broker coral reef-related information to and from resource users and to assess the performance of these brokers. Representatives (n = 262) of actor groups were interviewed, including local and national government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community organizations and resource user groups from 12 communities across four Caribbean countries, to map information-sharing networks and to identify brokers. Broker performance was assessed through separate interviews with coral reef resource users (n = 545). The findings show that marine NGOs were the highest-functioning brokers. Where such local-level organizations were absent, government agencies in reef management roles acted as brokers, but their performance was lower. Actors in brokerage positions did not always effectively share information, with broker performance being positively correlated with network brokerage scores. The results further our understanding of the roles of brokers in different governance contexts. Identifying those in brokerage positions and supporting their roles in connecting local resource users to wider governance networks could encourage functional brokerage and enhance reef management outcomes.

DIY Laboratories and business innovation ecosystems: The case of pharmaceutical industry

This paper conducts an embedded case study to verify a conceptual framework by which biopharma research in Do-It-Yourself (DIY) laboratories can be integrated into Research and Development (R&D) networks of the pharmaceutical industry. As an early attempt to extend the perspective of business innovation ecosystem into the research on DIY laboratories, this study reveals three major findings. First, DIY laboratories, contract research organizations (CROs) and pharmaceutical firms interdependently position and link with each other in an innovation ecosystem for new drug development. Second, through properly managing the issues of resource utilization and innovation appropriability, CROs play important hub and knowledge broker roles in coordinating and aligning different priorities and expectations of the key players in this innovation ecosystem. Third, this study maps and verifies two knowledge transfer models through which novel research findings in DIY laboratories can be converted into real commercial returns.

Professional development arising from multiple-site workplace learning: boundary crossing between the education and clinical contexts

BackgroundThis research explores the value of an inter-organisational jurisdiction, on the professional development of faculty members in their roles of researcher and educator. Faculty members from a Dutch university of applied sciences, who work in both the education and clinical practice contexts, participated in this research.MethodsIndividual semi-structured interview were conducted with nine faculty members, from various academic health professions, on their experiences of professional development arising from working in both the clinical and education contexts. In this exploratory, post-positive interview study, interview transcripts were analysed thematically.ResultsParticipants reported that working in two organisational contexts, whilst performing two faculty roles that span both contexts, enhances their ability to broker connections between research, teaching and practice. The boundary crossing activities which participants performed, contributed to professional development in all faculty roles. The broker role was not seen as being a unique role which is distinct from research and practice roles. Broker activities were seen as generic and supportive of the roles that bestow academic status and expertise.ConclusionsTo the participants in this research, the relevance of the broker role in professional development is not as evident as the relevance of roles that enhance specialisation and subject specific expertise. They consider broker activities as supportive to the roles of researcher and teacher. The broker role is time consuming, but not yet visible as a distinct professionalisable work-package in its own right. It is also not well defined in literature. A better understanding of the broker role could lead to its development in order to harness its professional development potential tenably across academic roles.

Riscos em operações de troca no agronegócio: Análise de modelo de gerenciamento de riscos para cooperativas

Nas operações de troca os agentes envolvidos são os produtores, as cooperativas e as empresas fornecedoras (Traders). As cooperativas atuam como intermediárias permitindo a aproximação entre os agentes e minimizando o risco de crédito. O objetivo desta pesquisa é analisar um modelo de gerenciamento dos riscos dessas operações. Ele foi desenvolvido com base na literatura sobre protocolos de gerenciamento de riscos, resultando em um modelo híbrido que contempla a identificação, análise e possíveis estratégias de respostas aos riscos. O modelo foi aplicado em uma cooperativa agroindustrial e contemplou as perspectivas dos agentes envolvidos. Foi utilizada análise de conteúdo de entrevistas e documentos para identificação dos riscos. Também foi feita a análise dos riscos quanto à sua probabilidade de ocorrência e impacto, permitindo assim a criação de matrizes de riscos. Com isso, foi possível avaliar as estratégias de respostas aos riscos nas perspectivas do produtor, cooperativa e Trader. Os resultados contribuem para a disseminação da prática do gerenciamento de riscos em operações de troca no agronegócio.

Building intersectoral networks: the role of health brokers in a community health promotion program

Abstract Background In community health promotion programs (HPP) aiming to improve health and reduce health inequities, health brokers can have a crucial role in building and sustaining intersectoral networks. These networks are pivotal for developing and implementing the HPP. However, the role of health brokers is new and there is little insight into the changes in the networks' size and composition over time and the processes that facilitate brokers' networks. The aim of this study was to map the brokers' network in detail and unravel the barriers and facilitators in network building. Methods To study the brokers' networks in a HPP in a Dutch socioeconomically deprived city district, in October 2017 and November 2019 the Composed Network Analysis (CNA) and the Coordinated Action Checklist (CAC) were used, as part of the action research accompanying the HPP. The CNA provides insight into the size and composition of the network and the CAC explores facilitators and barriers in network building and sustaining. Focus groups with the core network members (n = 6) were held to discuss and interpret results. Results The health brokers' network had expanded from an average of 100 contacts in 2017 to about 140 contacts in 2019. Existing contacts (e.g. social work, welfare work) had been strengthened and new partners, e.g. general practitioners and volunteers joined the network. This resulted in an increased attention for health on the agenda of these organizations and several joint activities as part of the HPP. Facilitators were working on a small scale, informal and formal, and frequent personal contacts. The most important barrier was change of partners. Conclusions The health brokers have been successful in and expanding their networks, putting health on the agenda of network partners and supporting activities. As such, the broker is essential in connecting a diverse range of partners and organizations in an intersectoral network in the city district. Key messages Working on a small scale, and with frequent personal, formal and informal contacts facilitated the health brokers network building and sustaining. A health brokers’ role, being initiator, facilitator and connector is essential for continuation of the community health promotion approach.

Do women in science form more diverse research networks than men? An analysis of Spanish biomedical scientists.

This paper examines the role of gender in the formation of research collaboration networks, by investigating the composition of networks through connections to diverse professional communities. Drawing on an ego network approach, we examine gender differences among researchers’ networks in terms of partner diversity, openness and brokerage roles. We use data from 897 valid responses to a questionnaire administered to biomedical scientists in Spain, which enquired into multiple aspects of personal research networks. Our findings show that women form more diverse networks and brokerage triads than men. This result is reinforced if we consider the most heterogeneous brokerage triads in terms of professional differences among network partners (i.e., consultant and liaison). Our results suggest that women are more likely to access non-redundant knowledge and richer research perspectives via their knowledge-flow intermediary roles. This research suggests the need for analyses of gender and networks that go beyond a gender-to-gender approach.

Foundation-sponsored networks: Brokerage roles of higher education intermediary organizations

Philanthropic foundations are influential policy entrepreneurs in higher education, advocating new ideas, engaging in collaborative activities, and seeding research to inform the decision-making process. Despite occupying this role, the higher education literature has yet to examine how philanthropic foundations promote ideas between entities or how shared granting relationships are used to distribute and exchange information. By utilizing several sources of data, including in-depth interviews and an original dataset of postsecondary grants, and by applying social network concepts, this study explores the strategies educational funders use to disseminate ideas and promote information exchange. This study found that major foundations are not only taking on an advocacy-oriented role within their communication strategies, but they are also facilitating information sharing among intermediaries based on mutual granting relationships and shared agendas. Furthermore, the most impactful grantees are those who cross sectoral boundaries, such as advocacy nonprofits, think tanks, membership associations, and government agencies.

Actors and network in the marketization of rural collectively-owned commercial construction land (RCOCCL) in China: A pilot case of Langfa, Beijing

This study investigates the actors in the entry process of rural collectively-owned commercial construction land (RCOCCL) into the market, as well as their communication network features, relying on social network analysis and semi-structured interviews. We quantify varying centrality metrics of actors or stakeholders in the marketization network, analyze their roles and positions by identifying cohesive subgroups via blockmodeling, and then scrutinize the information exchange and the flow of brokers. Results suggest that the township-level government and the land joint management company are at a core position with a high-level control over contact and information, both playing important brokerage roles. The village-level property owners are at a peripheral position where their appeals appear lack of policy attention. This relates to the subgroup structure in the marketization network, in which core actors at the district/township level are less connected with village-level stakeholders, resulting in an uninformative delivery of villagers’ opinions. This study helps researchers and practitioners clarify the actors’ roles intertwined in the communicative process of RCOCCL marketization in China.

The COVID-19 response system and collective social service provision. Strategic network dimensions and proximity considerations

This paper aims to study and question the emerging social response network to the COVID-19 health crisis in the Valencian region (Spain). Our approach is twofold: a network approach using social network analysis techniques and a social services approach. We seek to analyze the different roles, strategic positions, ego-density and brokerage of the participating organizations. Furthermore, we examine the critical factors for explaining why the different organizations in the ecosystem cooperate. We find that associations and knowledge agents play the most relevant roles. Conversely, local and non-local governments rarely played brokerage roles to coordinate or inter-connect isolated operations of individual organizations. Finally, our results suggest important guidelines for practitioners that may facilitate the collaboration, coordination, and performance of a response network in the future.

Innovation diffusion in tourism: how information about blockchain is exchanged and characterized on twitter

PurposeTechnological innovations provide huge opportunities to expand and revolutionize the scope of products and services offered. This is particularly true for tourism, which is undergoing significant changes due to the development of new technologies. The level of technology diffusion depends on several factors like the exchange of information among peers, and the attitude and shared perception among the contributors. The aim of the study is to explore the diffusion of technology in tourism with a specific focus on the social media discourse around new technologies. Thus, the paper investigates the level of interest in these new technologies analysing the information exchange occurring between individuals on Twitter in order to explore the influence of reciprocal networking.Design/methodology/approachTo capture the attitudes expressed in the industry, the study analyses the ongoing discourse on Twitter as a proxy for the participants “interest in new technologies. Through a social network analysis of the tweets and retweets conducted over a period of nine months, the research maps the level of information exchange about the diffusion of new technologies. Moreover, the sentiment analysis provides an interesting overview of the individuals” attitudes towards the awareness or the adoption of new technologies.FindingsOur analysis has provided several insights: (1) the information network on blockchain in tourism consists of participants who change very quickly over time (high turnover of accounts); (2) some contributors have an extremely important role in influencing the flow of information in the system (information centralization), they can have a generalist (discussing several topics) or a specialist (focusing on a specific topic) behaviour and this strategic choice influences their network's structure; (3) these central nodes also have an impact on the definition of positive and negative sentiment towards a topic (sentiment influencer).Research limitations/implicationsThe paper contributes to the literature on technology diffusion, by focusing on one of the preconditions of diffusion that is the shared positive attitude towards technological innovation. More specifically, we adopt a network-based approach, which is useful to explain the level of information exchange and the public discourse that can impact the shared perception and attitude towards technological innovation. The study also highlights the role of knowledge brokers in influencing this public discourse. Future studies can deepen the association between positive perception, higher levels of information exchange and increasing usage of specific technologies. Our results also suggest further exploring the opportunity to combine social media data and other sources of information to shed more light on the technological innovation diffusion processes.Practical implicationsThis paper shows how practitioners can benefit from the analysis of information exchange about new technologies in tourism adopting a network perspective with the aim of understanding the level of influence among contributors. Moreover, the increasing interest in blockchain technology and the potential combination between social media data and other sources of information can offer promising insights.Social implicationsThe present study explores the level of technology diffusion through the analysis of information exchange on social media (Twitter). Furthermore, the dynamics of individual user behaviour offers a better understanding about media effects.Originality/valueWhile previous research is focused on the users' perception towards the development of new technologies in tourism, the aim of this study is to investigate the dynamics behind the level of diffusion of information and awareness about these new technologies, which still represents an unexplored area of research.

Formal and informal support at Icelandic universities: experiences of staff members and immigrant students

Due to increased migration in recent decades, universities must adapt their practices to meet the needs of a changing student body. Many immigrant students desire to complete their studies at universities, yet factors such as language of communication and cultural traditions limit their possibilities. This paper comes out of a study titled Educational Aspirations, Opportunities and Challenges for Immigrants in University Education in Iceland. The findings are based on individual interviews with immigrant students and university staff members and focus group interviews with immigrant students. The theoretical framework of the study draws from the ideas of culturally competent counselling. This helps to analyse immigrant students’ experiences of formal and informal support during their university studies (Arredondo et al., 1996; Maunonen-Eskelinen, Kaikkonen & Clayton, 2005). Formal support constitutes institutional support provided by the universities, such as orientation programs and social activities of various kinds. Informal support, in contrast, incorporates other means of assistance to immigrant students either through those whom they trust, such as instructors, or community members in the role of cultural brokers. Immigrant students also get support through their present and former friends and through their extended family members. The findings indicate that, despite the challenges that immigrant students face at Icelandic universities, the majority were quite positive about their experiences as they described different types of formal and informal support which they obtained throughout their studies.

The role of the expert knowledge broker in rural development: Renewable energy funding decisions in Greece

Abstract Within debates on rural development, Neo-Endogenous Development has emerged as the consensus ‘best-practice’ approach. Central to this approach is the role of the Expert Knowledge Broker – the conduit that brings local and ‘extra-local’ together. This paper contests that, despite a wealth of research on this paradigm and the knowledge flows that operate within, little research has been conducted regarding the decision-making process of the Expert Knowledge Broker. However, this is arguably decisive in which type of rural development is enacted. Using the allocation of funding for Renewable Energy projects in Greece as a critical context, this paper explores the decision-making approach of experts using Analytic Hierarchical Process analysis. We find that the type of rural development enacted is contingent upon the funding decision and the balance between local and extra-local funding decisions vary depending upon heterogeneous criteria. The paper contributes to knowledge through a nuanced explanation of the role of the Expert Knowledge Broker and suggests how EU Renewable Energy policy funding decisions can become more effective.

The digital transformation of SMEs – a new knowledge broker called the digital innovation hub

PurposeThis study aims to understand if and how European digital innovation hubs (DIHs) filling the role of knowledge brokers (KBs) can support the digital transformation (DX) of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by triggering open innovation (OI) practices.Design/methodology/approachAfter presenting a conceptual model of reference, a survey and a subsequent in-depth interview were conducted to capture evidence from Italian DIHs. These structures were selected for their growing importance, as confirmed by the National Plan for Industry 4.0.FindingsThe findings highlight that Italian DIHs act not only as KBs but also as knowledge sources that give rise to a digital imprinting process that is able to shape the DX of SMEs.Originality/valueResearch on knowledge sharing and OI has mainly focused on large firms. The study covers the gaps identified in the literature by considering the role of KBs in enabling SMEs to embrace DX.

Forget opinion leaders: the role of social network brokers in the adoption of innovative farming practices in North-western Cambodia

ABSTRACT It has become accepted that social networks influence farmers’ decisions and agricultural development programs routinely support influential farmers in an effort to disseminate recommended practices through their social networks. We have interviewed (1) 120 heads of farming households in one village in North-western Cambodia about their networks and practices; and (2) representatives of organizations managing agricultural development programs in the region. We have constructed an information-sharing network of the village and computed network centrality measures of each farmer in the village indicating their access to information from peers, opinion leadership, brokerage, and the redundancy among their contacts. We have analysed the relation of farmers’ networks and their practices. While the number of links farmers’ had in the community was mainly unrelated with their adoption decisions, the structure of these links mattered. Farmers who were perceived as influential were not necessarily inclined towards recommended practices. In contrast, farmers who had fewer contacts but were in brokerage positions on main channels of information flows between different groups displayed more progressive practices. The results suggest some limitations of excessive reliance on perceived influential farmers in agricultural programs and highlight the role that network brokers play in adoption of innovative farming practices.

Brokers in Biotechnology and Software Networks in EU Research Projects

AbstractResearchers have acknowledged that the flow of knowledge is influenced by the non-structural and structural features of networks. This paper aims to further develop an understanding of the institutional and structural features of knowledge networks by relating the brokerage roles of actors to the types and locations of organisations in biotechnology and software networks. The study is set within the context of the European Union (EU) research and innovation policy. It is designed as a social network analysis of EU research projects in biotechnology and software that took place between 1995 and 2016, wherein organisations from the Baltic States participated. The results of the study revealed that higher education and research organisations and public bodies acted as the main knowledge brokers and brokered more frequently across different regions in biotechnology networks. In software, it was the universities and research organisations that fulfilled this role. Thus, this study contributes to an understanding about the institutional and structural aspects of knowledge networks by focusing on brokers and their brokerage roles and relating these factors to specific organisation types and the locations of actors within the two sectors. It also adds the empirical context of the Baltic States in the areas of biotechnology and software collaborative research projects to the studies of knowledge networks, and offers practical suggestions for implementing collaborative research projects.

Part-time Brokers in Financialised Rural Land Markets: Processes, Typology and Implications

This article aims to delineate the part-time matchmaking broker in the rural land markets of Kerala, India, in the light of financialisation of land. While the land scenario in India has garnered attention with respect to urbanisation and financialisation, few studies have analysed the processes involved in rural land markets in conjuncture with financialisation. The article maps out the actors involved in rural land markets so as to trace the role of intermediary brokers, their intricate processes of intermediation and their implications, to understand the process of mediation in the working of rural land markets. Rural land market functioning is analysed in the backdrop of a tax-evading land transfer tax system and brokers who are mainly matchmakers that augment speculative land market activity. In this scenario, the study analyses the various types of intermediaries by revealing how the ‘part-time matchmaking broker’ uses social networks to mediate speculative land purchases in a financialised rural land market regime. The article concludes by drawing attention to the rent-seeking behaviour associated with intermediaries.

Higher Education Institutions as Knowledge Brokers in Smart Specialisation

The effectiveness of societal interaction has become a key aspect in evaluating the success of higher education institutions (HEIs) in performing their duties. These factors have been built into institutional funding models, and the funding of research follows a similar approach. External stakeholders are now having to share in undertaking some of the functions that will define higher education institutions’ external activities, societal interaction and impact on society. The European Union’s smart specialisation strategy is such a factor. This initiative allows higher education institutions to implement policies by building regional clusters. The counterparts of higher education institutions in these clusters of smart specialisation are knowledge-intensive enterprises, high-tech service providers, educational institutions, the Arctic Smartness Specialisation Platform and other centers of expertise for smart specialisation. In this paper, we have analysed the role of higher education institutions as knowledge brokers in smart specialisation though a qualitative analysis of 20 interviews conducted during the implementation of the smart specialisation project. Our findings show that the knowledge broker role can be promoted from four perspectives: the social dimension of networks; decision-making and control; cluster building; and exchange elements. The clarification and legitimation of the role of higher education institutions as knowledge brokers in these areas would give smart specialisation more impetus to reach its goals.