Improve Knowledge Exchange Research Articles

MULTI-LEVEL ARCHITECTURE OF KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM TO IMPROVE INFORMATION SECURITY LEVEL

Information security is a major concern because security risks can greatly affect the assets of an organization. To increase the level of information security, it is proposed to use a knowledge management system with a multi-level architecture in order to improve knowledge exchange and facilitate decision-making, as well as reduce dependence on individual information security experts.

Disseminating evidence-based research on mental health and coping to adolescents facing adversity in Lebanon: a pilot of a psychoeducational comic book \u2018Somoud\u2019

BackgroundDespite advances in the evidence base and scaling up of mental health and psychosocial interventions for children and adolescents affected by conflict and adversity, a theory-practice gap remains, with limited translation of research findings to affected communities.MethodsIn order to disseminate findings from a review on mental health and coping for children and adolescents, a psychoeducational comic book ‘Somoud’ was developed and piloted with adolescents and their caregivers in Lebanon, using a qualitative Grounded Theory approach.ResultsIn total, 10 participants (5 adolescents, 5 parents), took part in the study. Using Thematic Content Analysis, 6 themes were identified; 1) psychoeducation versus misinterpretation, 2) balancing depth with accessibility, 3) aesthetic appeal, 4) contextual relevance and realism, 5) daily stressors, and 6) parental and social relationships.ConclusionsThe findings demonstrate the importance of cultural and contextual piloting of psychoeducational content, and the potential usefulness and accessibility of a comic book format to disseminate information to adolescents. Data from the pilot was used to inform the development of a new version of ‘Somoud’ for sharing with adolescents in Lebanon. Further research is required to establish the effectiveness of the psychoeducational book as a ‘self-help’ tool, and to further improve knowledge exchange between researchers and communities.

2.G. Workshop: The health labour market and the human face of the health workforce: analysis, advocacy and action

Abstract Background Health workforce research and data have significantly improved over recent years. Many countries have stepped up efforts to establish more complex health workforce monitoring and planning systems, to increase the stock of care workers, and to introduce new education and training programs. There is now also greater attention to skill-mix and task-shifting models. However, major policy problems and knowledge gaps remain. Health systems across countries have largely failed to respond adequately to the globalisation of health labour markets and the growing mobility. Furthermore, research on needs and demands of the health workforce is still poorly developed. Health policy largely ignores the 'human being' behind every single healthcare worker. Objectives This workshop connects health labour market data (macro-level) with the 'human face' of the health workforce (micro-level) and brings a global approach (transnational level) to the analysis, with a focus on Europe. It aims to identify gaps in health workforce policies and to highlight a need for a public health approach, which moves beyond nationally-defined health workforce policy of 'faceless numbers' of health professionals and carers. The workshop relates to ethical, cultural and social aspects of the health labour market. It also builds on the research that has revealed the connections between working conditions, staff turn-over, job satisfaction and quality of care. It acknowledges that we have a European labour market for health workers, but very little common policies developing the European health workforce. The workshop introduces novel results drawn from major international data sources (WHO, OECD, EUROSTAT), from a European primary care survey, cross-country comparative research and in-depths country case studies. Next to the nursing, medical and primary care workforce, specific attention is paid the long-term care and geriatric sectors. A particular area of concern are the threats of labour market migration to the individual professional and the sending countries. Two major policy recommendations are emerging from the research: (1) to move beyond national health labour market policy and develop a transnational regulatory framework to reduce growing inequality in Europe and globally caused by health workforce shortage and labour market migration; (2) to bring the 'human face' of the health workforce into data analysis and policymaking. The workshop will stimulate critical debate and improve knowledge exchange across countries and between researchers and international data holders. It will strengthen public health advocacy and action for future health workforce governance with a 'human face' to create a sustainable workforce and support the implementation of the SDGs. Key messages Analysis must connect health labour markets with the ‘human face’ of the health workforce. Action is needed to develop a global regulatory framework for effective and ethically responsibile health workforce governance.

The EVITA evidence action tool to improve evidence-based policymaking for public mental health

Abstract The estimated global disease burden of mental illness is 32.4% of years lived with disability. Mental health is a critical determinant for public health, and government-level action is needed for integration of mental health into public health. But in many low/middle-income countries (LMICs) mental health is absent on the policy agenda, despite up to 90% of people with mental illness lacking treatment. Evidence on cost-effective treatments is available, but translation of research into policy is a 'wicked' problem and often fails. We investigate the inter-relationships of research evidence and mental health policymaking in LMICs and present a framework/advocacy tool to guide and support evidence-based public mental health policymaking. Using a mixed-methods approach, we conducted a systematic review, based on which we developed a provisional framework (EVITA), revised and validated it through expert in-depth interviews. We then empirically tested the EVITA framework against three case studies (provincial, national, global level, South Africa). We collected qualitative data through expert interviews/documentary analysis, coded and analysed the data in NVivo, and finalised the framework and action tool. We identified agenda-setting as a research theory gap in the context of mental health knowledge translation in LMICs. Thus we developed the EVITA framework for evidence-based mental health policy agenda-setting, and validated it against empirical case studies. Our findings suggest that behavioural methods can support interventions to improve research uptake. The EVITA action tool has been theoretically and empirically validated, and includes policy agenda-setting and behavioural methods as a novel, effective mechanisms for improving evidence-based policymaking in public mental health. EVITA has the potential to improve the challenging process of research evidence translation into policy/practice in LMICs, and may be applicable to other neglected health areas/countries. Key messages The new validated EVITA framework uses agenda-setting and behavioural methods to improve knowledge exchange for better evidence-informed, potentially more effective, public mental health policymaking. The EVITA action tool helps researchers, policymakers & others to strategically take action for public mental health agenda-setting and advocacy interventions for evidence-based policymaking in LMICs.

Extracting Problem Linkages to Improve Knowledge Exchange between Science and Technology Domains using an Attention-based Language Model

Science and technology activities can be considered problem-solving activities, and scientific papers and patent publications can be viewed as providing explicit knowledge gained from the problem-solving of academia and industry respectively. However, even in the same field, the approach to the same problem is not consistent between a paper and the patented technology. The creation of information silos in science and technology generates inefficiency in human intellectual production. Therefore, this study examines whether insights from technical problems can be shared with academics to solve scientific problems. We propose a concept to link the problems between these two domains using a linguistic approach for knowledge discovery that connects science and technology. We extracted scientific papers from the Association for Computational Linguistics dataset, and patent literature from the Derwent Innovation platform. From these, pairs of problem defining sentences were identified and extracted using an attention-based language model. For example, we were able to extract examples of issues that do not necessarily arise from scientific papers, such as annotation difficulties in the analysis of social network data, but can be hinted at by patented techniques prior to the paper. These results suggest that scientific problems and industrial solutions can provide mutual insight. This knowledge discovery approach is recommended not only for benefiting corporate activities but also for grasping research trends.

“We’re not there to protect ourselves, we’re there to talk about workforce planning”: A qualitative study of policy dialogues as a mechanism to inform medical workforce planning

IntroductionTo address a disjuncture between medical workforce research and policy activities in Ireland, a series of national level policy dialogues were held between policy stakeholders and researchers to promote the use of research evidence in medical workforce planning. This article reports on findings from a qualitative study of four policy dialogues (2013–2016), the aim of which was to analyse policy dialogues as a mechanism for knowledge-sharing and interaction to support medical workforce planning. MethodsDescriptive qualitative study design involving in-depth interviews with policy stakeholders and researchers (n = 13) who participated in the policy dialogues; thematic analysis of interview transcripts. FindingsPeriodic policy dialogues, with discussion focused on research evidence, provided an enabling environment for exchange and interaction between policy stakeholders and researchers, and between policy stakeholders themselves. Findings foreground the significance of the policy-making context, in terms of how people interact during policy dialogues, and how research can potentially (or not) inform medical workforce planning. ConclusionPolicy dialogues provide a mechanism for improving knowledge exchange and interaction between policy stakeholders and researchers. Situated within the policy context, policy dialogues also add value to: a) policy-making processes by facilitating interactions between policy stakeholders outside the day-to-day business of formal and sometimes adversarial negotiation; b) research processes, including exposing researchers to the complexity of health workforce planning, and health policy more generally.

Evaluating transdisciplinary science to open research-implementation spaces in European social-ecological systems

Researchers in multiple, related fields that address complex social and environmental challenges, have shown ongoing enthusiasm for applying transdisciplinary social-ecological systems (SES) research to promote sustainability. However, few studies have evaluated the effectiveness of SES approach, assessed its achievements, and identified challenges to its implementation toward knowledge production for environmental conservation.We report the results of a qualitative, participatory evaluation of several SES projects across Europe using an evaluation methodology tailored to transdisciplinary projects. We conducted 66 stakeholder interviews at four designated Long-Term Socio-ecological Research (LTSER) platforms – Danube Delta and Braila Island (Romania); Cairngorms (Scotland); and Doñana (Spain). Using qualitative analysis, we synthesized data from interviews and then returned to the sites to present findings to stakeholders in focus group discussions in order to incorporate their feedback into conclusions.We conclude that although particular scientists at each platform have taken on entrepreneurial roles to operationalize transdisciplinary science, a business-as-usual attitude tends to dominate institutions, limiting meaningful progress toward transdisciplinary objectives, including: integration of social science research, giving non-researcher stakeholders a more meaningful role in advancing relevant research, and improving knowledge exchange among different stakeholder groups, among other issues. While we found that all the components of transdisciplinary SES research exist at the sites, there is no overarching strategy to link long-term planning and funding, knowledge integration, and priority-setting with stakeholders to ensure the relevance of research for policy and practice. We conclude with reflections about implementing our evaluation methodology, and a call for periodic, participatory evaluation into the future.

OP91 Developing A Celtic Connections Regional Health Technology Assessment Alliance

IntroductionThe Irish, Scottish and Welsh national Health Technology Assessment (HTA) bodies (Health Information and Quality Authority, Health Technology Assessment Group, Scottish Health Technologies Group, Health Technology Wales) have recently (2018) established a ‘Celtic connections’ regional HTA alliance on non-medicine technologies. The primary purpose is to add value by realizing potential economies of scale and scope in non-medicine HTA efforts.MethodsA Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was agreed to: formalize collaboration and partnership working; improve shared understanding of work programs and processes; collaborate on and co-produce evidence reviews of mutual interest; increase both the volume and range of technology topics for which advice is developed in each nation; promote knowledge exchange; and enhance professional and personal development for each agency's staff.ResultsEarly benefits include: collaboration on one technology topic resulting in the production of bespoke guidance in three countries; an update of a partner's rapid review; identification of a further potential topic collaboration (sacral nerve stimulation); a six month senior staff secondment; and reciprocal observer membership on each country's national committees. Other general benefits have included: reduced duplication of effort; improved quality assurance through ‘critical friend’ peer review; enhanced access to methodological advice and a broader range of stakeholders; and development of a forum for discussion and peer support.ConclusionsThe alliance offers real potential to optimize use of the scarce resources for non-medicine technologies across the three countries and increase evidence review and guidance volume through adapting or co-producing outputs. Longer term benefits are anticipated to include: improved knowledge exchange; advancing skills of staff; building and broadening capacity through shared learning and access to a wider professional peer group; improved staff recruitment and retention; production of joint publications and other modes of dissemination; and increased profile for each country's work.

Knowledge transfer among international strategic alliance partners and its impact on innovation performance

The purpose of this study is to provide an overview of the literature available on knowledge transfer highlighting the factors affecting knowledge transfer mechanism and provides a theoretical framework to study its impact on strategic alliance's innovation performance. The paper studied a vast literature for providing a comprehensive framework to study the knowledge transfer mechanism among the alliance partners and its impact on performance. It also proposes a methodology for future empirical testing. The paper provides factors affecting knowledge transfer among international strategic alliance partners. A theoretical framework is prepared from the literature for further research integrating factors effecting knowledge transfer, linking them with innovation performance. This paper provides avenues for further research in the field of strategic management and international business for improving knowledge exchange for alliance's success. The paper could not review all the possible variables affecting knowledge transfer and is conceptual in nature. The paper provides a useful insight for managers involved in the international strategic alliances as well as for business executives for improving knowledge transfer mechanism among alliance partners. Although various researchers have studied knowledge transfer among international strategic alliances, not too many have linked factors affecting knowledge transfer with performance, which this study does.

Principals’ boundary activities and school violence: The mediating role of school management teams

The call for a more holistic approach to cope with school violence motivated the present study. The present model postulates that effective teamwork at the school management team level can have a positive impact on the level of school violence. Specifically, the model examined the mediating role of school management team effectiveness (in-role performance and innovation) in the relationship between the organizational-level factors of principals’ internal and external boundary activities and school violence. Data was collected from a survey of 692 school members and 92 principals in Israel. The structural equation model confirmed the main hypotheses and indicated that school management team effectiveness fully mediated the relationship of principals’ internal boundary activities to school violence. These results carry important practical implications for policymakers to help schools manage school violence issues. Understanding how the principals’ boundary activities can enhance school management team effectiveness by facilitating improved knowledge exchange and social relationships is important and may provide a mechanism to decrease school violence. The implications of these findings for both theory and practice are discussed.

Analysing the role of virtualisation and visualisation on interdisciplinary knowledge exchange in stem cell research processes

Interdisciplinary work is an increasingly frequent and important aspect of scientific research. However, successful knowledge exchange and collaboration between experts is itself a challenging activity with both technical and social components that require consideration. Here, this article analyses the cultural factors involved in interdisciplinary research, specifically in the context of a software programme designed to improve knowledge exchange. The authors undertook an ethnographic study to understand the impact of virtualisation and visualisation on an interdisciplinary research team, working together to develop novel imaging technologies for investigating stem cells. In this discovery-research environment the challenge was to determine the socio-technical effect of an in-house software tool called ProtocolNavigator, which provided a virtual laboratory environment for the team to simulate and map their ‘real-life laboratory’ activities. This display, together with activity icons and a timeline, could be visually analysed and transferred between multi-institutional researchers in a non-narrative approach. The aim of the work reported here is to provide the first detailed analysis of how software of this type is used in practice, and to analyse this through a robust social science-based perspective. Subsequently this study examines the effectiveness of this virtual laboratory environment on enhancing communication and understanding using a theoretical framework drawing upon three insights from the Sociology of Expertise and Experience: (i) interactional and contributory expertise, (ii) knowledge exchange and interpretative flexibility, and (iii) trading zones. The framework was extended by introducing the notion of material, concept and practice trade at these trading zones with a demonstration of how interactive visualisation of interconnected trading routes can empower interdisciplinary work. The addition of Foucault’s classic account of power found evidence of a panoptical effect due to the augmented visibility of each other’s work. In summary, the article offers a theoretical framework together with novel analysis to determine the influence of introducing tools and approaches designed to enhance interdisciplinary working—particularly in the context of knowledge sharing and trust.

Adapting to climate change: the role of organisational personalities in natural resource management

Preparing for climate change represents a significant challenge to environmental managers and is influenced by their ability to access and use the latest information. However, communicating and delivering adaption science across diverse stakeholder groups remain a significant challenge. We explore the utility of concepts from personality research to improve understanding of stakeholder capacity. Specifically, we defined eight potential climate-related personality ‘axes’ for natural resource management (NRM) organisations. We surveyed 80% of Australia’s 56 regional NRM organisations to characterise their traits in relation to these axes. Through cluster analysis and trait mapping, we defined six NRM ‘personality types’. These types were unrelated to external factors such as geographic location or land use activities. Rather, five organisational personality axes were important in defining personality type: where information is sourced, strategic skill sets for learning and reorganising, perceptions of risk and the ability to manage for uncertainty, perceptions of the role of NRM groups, and strategies for engagement. Identifying NRM personality type allows organisations to identify and capitalise on their strengths to target their adaptation efforts to maximise success. Organisations can also recognise what they might find most challenging and deliberately collaborate with other personalities with strengths in those areas. Finally, information providers can better understand how to tailor information delivery for improved knowledge exchange between research providers and organisations responsible for sustainability of natural resources, which enables stronger relationships and facilitates evidence-based decision-making.

Science synthesis for management as a way to advance ecosystem restoration: evaluation of restoration scenarios for the Florida Everglades

Restoration of large ecosystems, like the Florida Everglades, is complex because they cover large areas that span many jurisdictional boundaries and encompass a range of stakeholders whose survival and livelihood are intertwined with the ecosystem. The Everglades is well studied, but linking scientific information to restoration action requires that information be coproduced and carefully communicated to make scientific information credible, relevant, and accepted by stakeholders. Guided by decision‐maker key questions, the Synthesis of Everglades Restoration and Ecosystem Services (SERES) project used a team of specialists to synthesize scientific information across disciplines and evaluate four restoration scenarios that differed in water storage and removal of barriers to overland flow. Capital and operation costs were calculated for all scenarios and the results were communicated to policymakers and other stakeholders with the help of a graphic artist. Restoration options were evaluated in areas of hydrology, soil accretion, landscape processes, and small fish and wading bird dynamics. All scenarios provided substantial improvements to the biological system compared to the existing conditions. The option that expanded aboveground surface water storage and reduced barriers to water flow by 69% which allowed an estimated 91% of predrainage flows to reach the Gulf provided the best ecologic benefits for the least resources spent. The SERES project provides a practical process for improving knowledge exchange among stakeholders involved in restoring large‐scale ecosystems.

Land degradation and climate change: building climate resilience in agriculture

Land degradation and climate change pose enormous risks to global food security. Land degradation increases the vulnerability of agroecological systems to climate change and reduces the effectiveness of adaptation options. Yet these interactions have largely been omitted from climate impact assessments and adaptation planning. We examine how land degradation can influence climate‐change impacts and the adaptive capacity of crop and livestock producers across agroecological systems. We then present novel strategies for climate‐resilient agriculture that support opportunities to integrate responses to these challenges. Forward‐looking, climate‐resilient agriculture requires: (1) incorporation of land degradation processes, and their linkages with adaptive capacity, into adaptation planning; (2) identification of key vulnerabilities to prioritize adaptation responses; (3) improved knowledge exchange across local to global scales to support strategies for developing the adaptive capacity of producers; and (4) innovative management and policy options that provide multiple “wins” for land, climate, and biodiversity, thus enabling global development and food security goals to be achieved.

Knowledge that Acts: Evaluating the Outcomes of a Knowledge Brokering Intervention in Western Australia's Ningaloo Region.

Knowledge exchange involves a suite of strategies used to bridge the divides between research, policy and practice. The literature is increasingly focused on the notion that knowledge generated by research is more useful when there is significant interaction and knowledge sharing between researchers and research recipients (i.e., stakeholders). This is exemplified by increasing calls for the use of knowledge brokers to facilitate interaction and flow of information between scientists and stakeholder groups, and the integration of scientific and local knowledge. However, most of the environmental management literature focuses on explicit forms of knowledge, leaving unmeasured the tacit relational and reflective forms of knowledge that lead people to change their behaviour. In addition, despite the high transaction costs of knowledge brokering and related stakeholder engagement, there is little research on its effectiveness. We apply Park's Manag Learn 30(2), 141-157 (1999); Knowledge and Participatory Research, London: SAGE Publications (2006) tri-partite knowledge typology as a basis for evaluating the effectiveness of knowledge brokering in the context of a large multi-agency research programme in Australia's Ningaloo coastal region, and for testing the assumption that higher levels of interaction between scientists and stakeholders lead to improved knowledge exchange. While the knowledge brokering intervention substantively increased relational networks between scientists and stakeholders, it did not generate anticipated increases in stakeholder knowledge or research application, indicating that more prolonged stakeholder engagement was required, and/or that there was a flaw in the assumptions underpinning our conceptual framework.

Innovation behaviour and the use of research and extension services in small-scale agricultural holdings

Farmers’ views on research and extension services (RES) included in the Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System are rarely investigated. This study analyses the relationship between key factors of innovation behaviour (market orientation, learning orientation, and innovation attitude) and the use of RES through structural equation modelling, focusing on small-scale agricultural holdings. Market orientation and learning orientation appear to be positively correlated, confirming that synergies between both factors provide a background for innovativeness. Learning orientation and farm-holders’ education level, improve knowledge exchange and make the agriculture innovation process more inclusive. However, farmers’ innovation attitude is not clearly correlated with the use of RES. Motivations about “the will to do innovations” are represented by a construct that does not appear to have a determinant effect as a mediator in farmer’s decisions about using RES.

Reframing the evidence base for policy‐relevance to increase impact: a case study on forest fragmentation in the oil palm sector

Summary It is necessary to improve knowledge exchange between scientists and decision‐makers so that scientific evidence can be readily accessed to inform policy. To maximise impact of scientific evidence in policy development, the scientific community should engage more fully with decision‐makers, building long‐term working relationships in order to identify and respond to ‘policy windows’ with science that is reframed for policy‐relevance. We illustrate the process and challenges using a case study in which we synthesised evidence from studies of habitat fragmentation to provide information for improved biodiversity conservation in the oil palm sector, resulting in the uptake of this research into new industry guidelines. Policy implications. The case study demonstrates how having an in‐depth understanding of the ‘policy arena’ (the state of policy and the actors and influencing factors that affect policy) and responding with relevant and specific information, enabled effective uptake of science to inform the design of conservation set‐asides in the oil palm industry.

Obsolescence and Innovation in Economic Statistics on Agriculture

SummaryA re‐engineering of the systems for producing economic statistics for EU agriculture is advocated to make them more appropriate to the issues that are presently faced. In particular, the basic unit of the Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) should be shifted from the fictional ‘holding’ to the complete business, which in most cases is the farm household‐firm. This should allow a much sounder explanation of investment, farm viability and many aspects of business behaviour. Balance sheets will be complete and more meaningful. A wider range of policies could be serviced. This implies that FADN's coverage needs to be expanded to collect additional data on, for example, household income and environmental items. Many national farm accounts surveys already gather some of this material for national policy purposes. At the EU level, the legal status of the FADN Farm Return is an impediment to this expansion, and ways to achieve greater flexibility need to be explored. But even within present constraints there are several likely innovations within data handling systems that would enhance the usefulness of FADN, such as an improved ability to trace single businesses over time. Improved knowledge exchange among FADN providers and users is a likely way forward.

Increasing the effectiveness of knowledge transfer activities and training of the forestry workforce with marteloscopes

Sample plots of various sizes and forms are put in place to describe and monitor trees, stands or forest characteristics. The intent is usually to provide the basis for measuring and understanding the forest. Marteloscopes, by contrast, are large plots designed for tree marking simulations, set up with human beings as the main focus: they are used for knowledge transfer activities, training of various categories of forestry workers, and even for the study of human tree selection behaviors. This distinctive type of permanent plot is relatively new and unfamiliar to North America’s forestry professionals. In this paper, we provide a working definition of marteloscopes and demonstrate how they can significantly improve knowledge exchange and learning experiences, notably for complex decisions on partial cutting treatments. Potential uses of marteloscopes, their benefits as well as some of the challenges they bring are discussed in the presentation of selected examples from Canada, the United States and Italy. These examples cover uses by research agencies, universities and nonprofit organizations. Finally, we discuss ongoing developments for marteloscopes, the standardization of protocols and the potential benefits of linking marteloscopes into an international network, as more of them are put in place in diverse and unique forest settings.

Maternal perceptions of underweight and overweight for 6–8 years olds from a Canadian cohort: reporting weights, concerns and conversations with healthcare providers

ObjectivesThe majority of mothers do not correctly identify their child's weight status. The reasons for the misperception are not well understood. This study's objective was to describe maternal perceptions of...