Knowledge Transformation in the Third Sector:

plotting practical ways to have an impact

International Conference on Innovations through Knowledge Transfer

7th – 8th December 2010, Coventry

Razia ShariffHead, Knowledge Exchange Team

THIRD SECTOR RESEARCH CENTRE, UK

OVERVIEW

Third Sector Research Centre

Knowledge Exchange Strategy

Knowledge Exchange Impact Matrix

Monitoring and Evaluating knowledge exchange

TSRC Model implications Reflections

Third Sector Research Centre

Aim To make a difference in policy, practice & academia

Academic Knowledge developedPractitioner Community able to access & use research knowledge to enhance their work Economic and social impact of sector evidenced and strengthenedPolicy, funding and decision making informed through an accessible evidence base

BACKGROUND

First national ESRC research centre on the Third Sector, co-funded by the Office of Civil SocietyDedicated Knowledge Exchange Team based in a national third sector organisationOpportunity to offer a ‘step change’ in linear models of knowledge transfer to a more participatory and interactive model of engaging stakeholders in the research processStructure of TSRC includes stakeholder engagement at the strategic and operational levels

OUR KE STRATEGY

To bridge gaps and build understanding between research, decision making, policy making and practiceTo ensure that the experience and knowledge of policy and decision makers, practitioners and funders informs our research To make knowledge available in meaningful and accessible ways so that it can be used by policy and decision makers, practitioners and fundersTo ensure we reach those isolated from existing research knowledge flows

1. Review of Literature

2. Identify Research Streams

3. Establish engagement mechanisms

4. Ensure ongoing

participation

5. Knowledge exchange &

feedback

6. Promote and publicise

7. Identify new areas of

research

Third Sector Stakeholders

Decision makers and policy implementers

Funders & Commissioners

Non academic

researchers

Academic Researchers

Practitioners

Media and Publicists

Local and national policy makers

Advisory Board

Reference Groups

TSRC

TOOLS AND METHODS

• Website and links to other websites• Publicity Materials and e-bulletin’s• Published materials• Building contacts and expanding reach• Media and press work• Events and workshops• Monitoring, evaluation and refine approach to

ensure cover the diversity and depth of the sector

MATRIX ANALYSIS

Lack of guidance available for planning and evaluating knowledge broker interventions Robeson et al (2008)

Limited research knowledge on how knowledge exchange works in different contexts Ward 2009a & Jackson-Bowers 2006

Need to develop understanding on different knowledge exchange activities and their effectiveness

Knowledge Exchange Impact Matrix plots and compares activities undertaken by KET to date

More stakeholders

impacted

Fewer stakeholders

impacted

Media advertising

Stands at VCS Conferences

Inserts/ publicity in

delegate packs

Website, discussion

board, blogs, using social

mediaResearch presentations

at events

Sharing information on

sector debates and reports

News articles in specialist and general

media

Advisory Board and Reference Groups

Co-hosting events based on research streams in

partnership with partner organisations

Articles in Academic Journals

Dissemination of research knowledge

Impact events on research papers

Policy symposium with media, policy and

practice

Stands at meetings and seminars

Facilitating workshops on research areas

Capacity Building Clusters (CBC)

Attending targeted events TV/Radio

interview

Meaningful knowledge exchange

MONITORING AND EVALUATING• Conceptual Framework

Inputs, process, outputs, reach, audience, initial outcomes, intermediate outcomes and intended long term outcomes (based on John Hopkins Bloomberg School, 2006)

• Data Collection MethodsRoutine recording of website use and downloads, user surveys, research use through content analysis

• Other methodsAs part of our performance management review we will undertake in-depth qualitative realistic evaluation (Pawson and Tilley 1997) Holding impact events (based on ODI, RAPID Model)

IMPLICATIONS OF USING THE MATRIX

Don’t equate high number of citations and media coverage as key indication of successDon’t explore different stakeholders sector cultures and ways of working or existing understandingDoesn’t consider actual impact of interactions after activity or additional exchange created by cascading research knowledgeFocus on the quality of the knowledge exchange activity and the meaningful interaction created to influence research policy and practice

REFLECTIONS

Knowledge Exchange should not be an add on or supplementary after research has been undertaken but integrated into the research processNeed to consider resource implications of ongoing interactions and implementing research findingsNeed to establish building blocks by raising research profile and creating strong relationshipsCumulative effect of more intense meaningful intense knowledge exchange more likely to have a long term impact

Razia ShariffHeadKnowledge Exchange TeamThird Sector Research Centre

r.shariff@tsrc.ac.ukWebsite: www.tsrc.ac.uk