Role Of Brokers Research Articles

Preparedness for and collaboration during regional outbreaks with multidrug-resistant organisms

Abstract Background Outbreaks with multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) are a significant burden on the healthcare system and the wellbeing of affected patients and carriers. Cross-institutional MDRO outbreaks require a concerted multidisciplinary effort for effective outbreak management. This presents challenges regarding cooperation, coordination and communication between stakeholders. In this study, we investigate collaborative structures and coordination roles in Dutch outbreak response networks and how Dutch healthcare professionals engage in preparedness activities relating to MDRO outbreaks. These findings form the basis for the development of a stress test exercise for improving professional and organizational collaboration and coordination during MDRO outbreaks. Methods Using a mixed-methods design, an online survey and qualitative interviews are conducted among healthcare professionals in two healthcare regions in the Netherlands. Social network analysis is used to gain insight in collaborative structures and brokerage roles. To investigate preparedness activities, the survey is combined with qualitative interviews to explore respondents’ experiences, preferences and needs regarding preparedness activities for MDRO outbreak management. Results During the workshop we will show the cross-organizational network structures, the strengths and weakness of the mutual connections and provide insight in positions in networks, roles and responsibilities. Also, we provide insight in how the use of and experience with training and exercise activities, such as stress tests, contribute to preparedness for MDRO outbreaks in vulnerable patient populations. Conclusions This study shows how healthcare professionals from different organizations collaborate during MDRO outbreaks, and how they engage with preparedness activities. This provides valuable input for development of a stress test specific to MDRO outbreak management, and other interventions to improve outbreak preparedness.

Generating and translating evidence for safe and effective medication management in aged care homes.

Generating and translating high-quality evidence is integral to providing safe and effective medication management for residents of aged care homes. Residents are often under-represented in trials of medication effectiveness and safety. This paper reviews opportunities and challenges for generating and translating evidence for safe and effective medication management in aged care homes. There are an increasing number of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) being conductedin aged care homes. Observational studies can also help address the evidence-practice gap arising from underrepresentation of residents in RCTs. Stepped-wedge and helix counterbalanced designs may help overcome limitations of traditional RCTs for evaluating medication management interventions in the aged care setting. Strategies for generating evidence include building effective partnerships with aged care homes and organizations, using novel trial designs, leveraging existing data and knowledge sharing through international platforms. Strategies for translating evidence include using quality indicators for audit and feedback, provision of education and training, engaging internal and external stakeholders, and development of local action plans and guideline implementation tools. There is an emerging interest in the role of knowledge brokers to facilitate knowledge translation. Future directions for generating and translating evidence include strengthening international research collaboration, industry partnerships, standardizing aged care home data to support national and international comparisons, and optimizing the use of technology. Initiatives may include improving access to routinely collected administrative health and medication data for conducting high-quality observational studies. Future studies should assess outcomes prioritized by residents to ensure that medication management strategies are tailored to their needs.

The impact of government-backed venture capital on artificial intelligence startups’ productivity: focusing on broker roles

ABSTRACT This study investigates the effects of government venture capitals (GVCs) backing on the productivity of startups compared to private venture capitals (PVCs). Based on a sample of 1,149 artificial intelligence startups in South Korea, we find that startups backed by GVCs show better productivity than those backed by PVCs. In examining the underlying mechanism of such higher performance by GVC-backing, we find that GVC-backed startups are more likely to acquire proprietary data and join R&D testbed programmes, thus leading to better productivity compared with PVC-backed startups. We interpret our findings as evidence of the positive abilities of GVCs as intermediaries for their portfolio startups.

Slum upgrading and participation: Insights from a marginalized neighbourhood in Buenos Aires

This paper rethinks participation in slum upgrading beyond a well-established dichotomy of “top-down” and “bottom-up” processes and instead proposes a relational and strategic approach to urban transformation. Based on qualitative research with a small informal settlement, Barrio Saldías, in Buenos Aires, that fell off the city government's agenda, this paper explores the role of participation in promoting upgrading from the margins. It argues that Saldías differs from instances of community-led upgrading due to the central role of party brokers and political representatives (especially from the local state) alongside residents, all of whom participate together in a political climate dominated by the discourses of citizen participation and slum upgrading. Rather than collapsing these experiences into the logic of clientelism, participation is centred as the articulatory logic based on a shared desire and commitment to transforming urban space, towards multiple political ends. Participatory upgrading in Saldías exceeds the narrow focus of project-centric approaches and draws on a wider trajectory of participation in Buenos Aires. It demonstrates this through an analysis of three moments of participatory upgrading in Saldías.

Agents, brokerage and Argentinian railways 1880–1905

This article examines the role of agents and how their brokerage activities influenced the composition, shape and size of Baring’s business networks in Argentinian railways during 1880–1905. Baring was heavily involved in Argentine sovereign and railway financing and relied on trusted agents, who acted as important conduits of information, to manage their business empire. We explore 2700 pieces of correspondence in the form of letters and telegrams to illustrate Baring’s network over time. Studying the case of Argentinian railways, the correspondences reveal the longevity of Baring’s network and agents’ brokerage roles over time in response to changing local and global economic currents. Through this rich qualitative data and network analysis, we contribute to understanding agent’s brokerage and network change over time. By highlighting the role of invisible actors in the form of agents, the article contributes to understanding infrastructure finance, financial globalisation and more generally, the global history of capitalism.

Factors Affecting Health Research Utilization Among Health Professionals in Nigeria

The utilization of health research in clinical practice is hindered by individual, organizational, and systemic barriers, including insufficient research literacy and unsupportive organizational cultures. Enhancing research literacy, fostering supportive environments, and implementing evidence-based policies are crucial for bridging the gap between research and practice, ultimately improving patient outcomes. This study investigates the factors affecting health research utilization among health professionals in Nigeria, an essential aspect for advancing healthcare systems and patient outcomes. Utilizing a cross-sectional descriptive design, data were collected via an online survey distributed to public health professionals and policymakers. The survey explored demographics, research utilization, dissemination effectiveness, barriers, and recommendations for improvement. Key findings indicate significant demographic disparities, with a higher proportion of younger and non-public health degree holders reporting unused research findings. The study identified major barriers, including inadequate communication, poor dissemination practices, and lack of access to research findings. Despite 87.6% of respondents conducting potentially impactful research, only 13.6% reported actual utilization of their findings. The recommendations for improvement emphasized the role of knowledge brokers, fostering research-attuned and decision-relevant cultures, enhancing communication and interaction between researchers and users, and building capacity among all stakeholders. Additionally, establishing effective dissemination systems, securing funding, and promoting international collaboration were highlighted as critical strategies. The study underscores the necessity of addressing structural, cultural, and communicative barriers to improve the practical application of health research in Nigeria, aligning with global trends and literature advocating for a multifaceted approach to enhance health outcomes.

EXPRESS: From Seller to Broker: When and How Issue Sellers Engage with External Stakeholders to Sell Issues Inside Organizations

Issue sellers employ a variety of tactics to create internal support for issues they seek to advance within an organization. While the relationship between internal issue “sellers” and “buyers” has been examined in prior work, we address a crucial omission in this body of literature, namely how issue sellers engage with external stakeholders to influence internal issue selling. We study corporate social responsibility (CSR) managers, their organizational counterparts who are expected to implement CSR, and external stakeholders (in our study non-governmental organizations). We find that issue sellers have three issue-selling tactics at their disposal that they employ dynamically and depending on internal buyers’ perception of the issue: First, mobilizing external stakeholders when internal support for the issue is low; second, buffering external expectations when they are incongruent with internal requirements; and third, moderating between external stakeholders and internal buyers when issues are difficult to implement. Our contribution is to explain why issue sellers’ role vis-à-vis internal buyers and external stakeholders can be better understood as that of “issue brokers” when they navigate strategically between external stakeholder expectations and organizational goals. This advances the issue-selling literature, research on brokerage roles and contributes to individual-level research on CSR.

The Role of Knowledge Brokers in Facilitating Knowledge Transfer within and between Organizations

Purpose: The general objective of the study was to investigate the role of knowledge brokers in facilitating knowledge transfer within and between organizations. Methodology: The study adopted a desktop research methodology. Desk research refers to secondary data or that which can be collected without fieldwork. Desk research is basically involved in collecting data from existing resources hence it is often considered a low cost technique as compared to field research, as the main cost is involved in executive’s time, telephone charges and directories. Thus, the study relied on already published studies, reports and statistics. This secondary data was easily accessed through the online journals and library. Findings: The findings reveal that there exists a contextual and methodological gap relating to the role of knowledge brokers in facilitating knowledge transfer within and between organizations. Preliminary empirical review revealed that knowledge brokers played a crucial role in facilitating knowledge transfer within and between organizations by acting as intermediaries between knowledge creators and users. They effectively bridged gaps, built networks of trust, translated complex information into accessible formats, and provided tailored support to various stakeholders. Their efforts enhanced the accessibility, relevance, and application of knowledge, fostering a culture of continuous learning and innovation. Additionally, knowledge brokers contributed to the broader diffusion of innovations and best practices, promoting systemic improvements and a more interconnected knowledge ecosystem. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study recommended enhancing theoretical frameworks to explicitly include knowledge brokers, formally recognizing and supporting their roles within organizations through training and development, and creating policies that incentivize their integration into public and private sectors. It also suggested developing interdisciplinary networks for collaboration, implementing robust evaluation mechanisms to assess the impact of knowledge brokers, and ensuring long-term sustainability through ongoing funding and institutional support. These measures aimed to optimize the impact of knowledge brokers in driving innovation, improving performance, and facilitating effective knowledge transfer within and between organizations.

A RESET of dairy farmer animal health planning behaviour: symbiotic advisory relationships and knowledge brokering in HerdAdvance

ABSTRACT Purpose: To evaluate the success of behavioural interventions designed to improve preventative animal health planning by dairy farmers in Wales. Methods: Interviews of farmers, veterinarians; focus group with extension officers; post-hoc written reflections from project managers; survey of farmers and veterinarians; farmer dropout analysis. Findings: The combination of interventions inspired by the RESET model of behavioural change helped farmers to implement new animal health planning behaviours. Crucial to the success of the project was the brokering role of extension agents and curation of AKIS relationships by project managers. This led to the establishment of symbiotic relationships which helped to deliver successful behavioural interventions. Practical implications: Illustrates the need for strong project and AKIS management to deliver combined behavioural interventions to farmers. It also demonstrates the danger of narrow evaluation methods which fail to delve deeper into the symbiotic relationships needed to deliver interventions in practice. Theoretical implications: Adds empirical evidence to an integrated behavioural change model (RESET) and explicitly connects the concepts of knowledge brokering and social capital with successful delivery of behavioural change. Originality: (1) Contributes novel empirical evidence on how to effect farmer behaviour change based on a large-scale national project. (2) explicitly highlights knowledge brokering, social capital, and good project management as crucial to delivering behavioural change projects, (3) reflects on the value of mixed method evaluations of behavioural change projects.

Recognize Dream Broker Role

Recognize Dream Broker Role

Facilitating the circular economy: insights from novel supply network actors

PurposeThis research studies circularity brokers, the economic actors facilitating the transition of companies towards circular operations. The purpose of this paper is to extend the understanding of “circular brokerage”, deriving from the concept of brokerage existing in network theory and applied to the specific context of the circular supply network. Recent papers have been devoted to particular facets of circular brokerage, with studies dedicated to circular incubators or platforms. This study proposes how these new actors can have a significant role in facilitating circular economy in general.Design/methodology/approachThe methodology is qualitative using 17 semi-directed interviews with circularity brokers. The theoretical approach draws on the network view and builds on recent developments of the theory in the context of circular economy.FindingsCircularity brokers support organisations and their networks, helping them to overcome the problems that stand in their way of adopting circular economy at different levels (micro, meso and macro). To do this, circularity brokers deploy a wide range of activities involving technical, methodological and relational skills. The study extends previous research by elaborating on the relationship between the position these actors occupy within their network and the benefits they can bring in terms of circularity.Originality/valueThis research provides evidence on the role of circularity brokers and moves the state of knowledge from a specific sector or cases to other sectors and a broader role beyond network position specifics. Network theory, with the constructs of broker exchanges and the influence of embeddedness, is used to develop theoretical implications.

Politics of International Labor Migration and the Survival of (Illegal) Brokers in Indonesia

Indonesian labor migration is a multifaceted process heavily influenced by private actors, particularly brokers who operate both within the bounds of legality as recruitment agencies and outside it as illicit recruiters. These brokers are frequently accused of exploiting Indonesian migrant workers, leading to government efforts to limit their roles. However, despite legislative efforts, such as the 2017 law aimed at restricting the roles of labor-recruiting companies and illegal brokers, these intermediaries persist. Drawing on the concept of brokerage and the Theory of Strategic Action Field, this article explains why brokers remain despite legislative challenges. This study also argues that state regulations inadvertently create structural holes, thereby providing brokers with opportunities to maintain their involvement in labor migration. Through 56 in-depth interviews with various actors—including current and former migrant workers, recruiters, recruitment agencies, civil society organizations (CSOs), and government officials—the study illuminates how the Indonesian government’s framing of "procedural migration” contains inherent loopholes. Brokers then exploited these gaps to legitimize their presence and assert control over workers’ destinies. These brokers adeptly adapt to regulatory changes and influence migration.

Political Brokers in Head of Village Elections (A Case Study in Sangal Village and Rantau Bangkiang Village, Central Kalimantan Province, Indonesia)

This study delves into the phenomenon of political brokers influencing village head elections in Sanggal Village and Rantau Bangkiang Village, Central Kalimantan Province, Indonesia. It employs the concepts of political brokers,patron-client relationships, and various forms of patronage to analyze how candidates utilize brokers to distribute resources and garner public support. Adopting a qualitative approach with a case study design, the research sheds light on the previously unexplored presence of political brokers within the context of village head elections, which have traditionally been seen as less susceptible to such influences compared to regional or national elections. The findings reveal a critical role played by political brokers in securing victories for village head candidates. Interestingly, the study also identifies a deviation from the typical material-based exchange, demonstrating that brokers may be motivated by less tangible benefits or even act as volunteers. This research contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of power dynamics within village head elections by highlighting the previously overlooked role of political brokers. It raises questions about the evolving nature of political influence at the local level and the potential implications for village governance and development.

Three degrees of separation: networks in the city of Babylon during the Reign of Darius I (522–486 BCE)

Abstract In this paper, I reconstruct the networks of Babylonian urban dwellers during the reign of Darius I (522–486 BCE) based on 803 tablets from 10 private archives in Babylon. The main aim is to examine the structure and connectivity of the network that connected different urban families and groups of individuals outside the families. I focus on the positions individuals occupied within the network that yielded them the power to connect smaller parts of the network. The first approach used to identify and analyze these positions is the betweenness centrality measure. The second approach is the analytic concept of brokerage, the role of mediating between two or more individuals or communities that would otherwise have no connection to each other. I identify differences in the ways that the intermediate position of brokers affected the formation of the network. These brokerage roles resulted from families’ strategies to increase their household wealth by constructing and optimizing marriage, prebendary, and business relations.

Transforming the Creative and Social Entrepreneurial Ecosystem: The Broker Roles of Rural Collaborative Workspaces

Creative social enterprises are increasingly emerging in rural regions, motivated by a desire to take social responsibility through creative approaches. These enterprises integrate entrepreneurial activities with creative social attributes and are sometimes set in rural collaborative workspaces (CWSs) facilitating entrepreneurial activities. Under the frame of entrepreneurial ecosystems (EEs), we argue that CWSs can be seen as brokers, who (1) link resources as liaisons, (2) hold and pass resources as gatekeepers, (3) enhance resource flows as coordinators, and (4) reproduce experiences as representatives. Against this backdrop, this paper presents a case study of two creative social enterprises in a CWS with a cooperative structure in rural Upper Austria by analyzing entrepreneurial biographies about the demand and use of entrepreneurial resources. Through a comparison between before and after the emergence of the CWS, the findings suggest that the EE for creative and social entrepreneurship undergoes two different types of transformation, a radical and a gradual one. The brokerage process of the CWS enhances local resource networks’ transformation of EE and brings the transformation in terms of translocal resources and integral EE of enterprises in the CWS. Additionally, the CWS generates social impacts on the local community through social enterprises. This paper contributes to ecosystem literature by introducing an actor-centric perspective and giving new insights into social entrepreneurship and the transformative power of CWSs as brokers.

Designing development programmes for climate change and uncertainty in Pacific Melanesia – the role for knowledge brokers

ABSTRACT With rapid globalization and climate change, development programmes face increasingly complex problems. New approaches to programme design and delivery are required, and knowledge brokers can contribute to this reorientation. To understand how community development initiatives in Melanesia address complexity, and their needs for knowledge brokering, we surveyed designers, managers and implementers in eight programmes from Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands. Applying the ‘Cynefin’ framework to describe complexity, we mapped programmes’ problem identification and solution design to elucidate their framing of problems. Whilst respondents identified uncertainties and complexities related to climate change, natural disasters and socio-economic conditions, programmes were designed with minimal consideration of these risks. Respondents attributed this to limited capacity and support networks to access and understand future risk information; poor information-sharing due to a lack of trust between partners; and minimal engagement between communities and the government. We highlight competencies that brokers need to enable more effective responses to rapid systems change, including fostering collaborations among partners, generating knowledge co-production, systems thinking, understanding complexity and uncertainty, and the promotion of learning and reflection. By incorporating brokering capacity, programmes in Melanesia could be better designed to account for future uncertainty, and tackle increasingly complex development challenges more effectively.

Exploring the role of evidence-based educational resources and brokering in the wake of political trauma

Background The research-practice gap has not been explored within civics education, and in particular the role of evidence-based civics curriculum in times of political trauma. Such research is critical in equipping educators with evidence-based resources to help mitigate political trauma experienced by students. Here, we explore the types of resources teachers access as well as the role of Brokers, Intermediaries and Boundary Spanners (BIBS) in connecting teachers to such sources after the historic 6 January 2021 US Capitol insurrection. Aims and objectives This study poses the following research questions: (1) what resources did teachers utilise to support their students following the 6 January 2021 Capitol insurrection; and (2) who were key BIBS in connecting teachers to such information and what role did research evidence have in the generation of such materials? Methods Using cross-sectional survey data, we analyse the open-ended text-based responses from educators reflecting on the days after 6 January 2021. Findings The study illuminates’ trends in: (1) the type of resources teachers utilise to address students’ needs (educational curricula, social media, news outlets); and (2) the role of BIBS in connecting them to such information (media platforms, mass media, educational non-profit organisations). Discussion and conclusion In the face of political trauma, educators present civics crises as ‘open issues’ and struggle to access frameworks to support research-based pedagogy. Findings illuminate the potential of a BIBS framework that works to further support educators in facilitating conversations and evidence-based pedagogies with their students that rebuke such injustices.

Strengthening the role of innovation brokers in the livestock advisory services system of Pakistan

Context This article assesses development and implementation of a non-traditional training ‘whole-family extension approach’ (WFEA) that contributes to the innovation-brokering capacity of farm advisors within the current livestock advisory services system of Pakistan. Aims The primary objectives of the research were to explore how the WFEA training leads to improved capacity and knowledge of farm advisors and then examine these through the lens of innovation brokers and the difference they can make within the extension system, including (1) articulation of problems and possibilities, (2) network building and (3) supporting negotiation and learning in networks. Methods A qualitative investigation was conducted during four facilitated discussions and three field follow-up visits following project interventions to build the capacity of 50 farm advisors from across a network of 22 organisations that are part of the Pakistani’s livestock extension system. Data were collected by using the following two qualitative approaches: (1) facilitated discussions, during each of the four separate training workshops; and (2) field follow-up visits, where farm advisors were interviewed following a set of semi-structured questions. The data were analysed to assess the changes observed across the different farm advisors during the training interventions and subsequent mentoring provided by the project team. Key results Gaps in innovation-brokering capacity from WFEA were identified and include co-designing and more institutional support of various collaborating organisations, use of visioning tools, scenario analysis to predict possible future for the farm-advisor training and training of farm advisors on analytical skills to capture the household impacts; these should be incorporated in WFEA training. Conclusions A holistic extension training intervention approach (the WFEA) can positively influence the innovation-brokering capacity of farm advisors within the current livestock advisory services system of Pakistan. Implications This article has contributed to the literature on innovation-brokering roles in the livestock advisory systems by highlighting key additional functions of innovation-brokering in a developing-country context. Furthermore, examples from Pakistan can be used to show how farm advisors can develop skills in articulating problems and possibilities, network building and supporting negotiation and learning in networks.

Collective knowledge brokering in social enterprises: developing an immersion-based model using Schein’s organisational cone

ABSTRACT Knowledge acquisition and integration across boundaries is essential for developing innovative solutions in social enterprises (SEs). The vital role of knowledge brokers in this process has been sparsely discussed. This study examined knowledge brokering roles for effective solution development in SEs. We qualitatively analysed four Indian SEs using analytical techniques of grounded theory and the Gioia method. Brokering emerged as a collective process involving multiple agents who spanned for, translated and integrated two knowledge sets: expert and contextual. Correspondingly, two brokering roles emerged: boundary spanners and translators, which were further subdivided into primary and secondary. SEs displayed varying brokering configurations, which we explain by developing one of the first models of collective knowledge brokering using Schein’s organisational cone (1971) and immersion. SEs can employ our model to identify and groom agents into specific brokering roles, and develop beneficial brokering configurations, for enhanced effectiveness.

“In-betweeners”: The brokering work of frontline workers during the New Zealand mycoplasma bovis outbreak

This article explores the brokering work performed by frontline workers during the recent New Zealand Mycoplasma bovis biosecurity outbreak and the subsequent eradication programme. The parent programme of study utilised a qualitative research design within a pragmatic orientation, and the dataset supporting this article comprised a subset of individual and group interviews conducted with fifteen frontline workers. The analysis indicates that in the process of meeting their various operational briefs, frontline workers brokered knowledge and information, resources and materials, and relationships for the benefit of their clients. Their brokering work mitigated the limitations of the intervention’s infrastructure and also mitigated dysfunction among stakeholder organisations. The embeddedness of frontline workers within their local communities meant that they already had credibility that worked to the advantage of the eradication programme. Participant accounts support the existence of a boundary space on the frontline of the M. bovis invention that, despite an overarching common purpose, was characterised by instability, chaos, and flux. The position of frontline workers as being ‘in-between’ their clientele (farmers impacted by M. bovis) and their employers conferred ambiguous status. Nevertheless, their accounts indicate that their brokering work improved the efficiency of the M. bovis eradication programme, and we suggest that organisations responsible for biosecurity can increase the effectiveness of future incursions by recognising, valuing, and supporting the brokering roles conducted by frontline workers.