Using Network Analysis to Understand Knowledge Mobilization in a Community-based Organization

Background Knowledge mobilization (KM) has been described as putting research in the hands of research users. Network analysis is an empirical approach that has potential for examining the complex process of knowledge mobilization within community-based organizations (CBOs). Yet, conducting a network analysis in a CBO presents challenges. Purpose The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the value and feasibility of using network analysis as a method for understanding knowledge mobilization within a CBO by (1) presenting challenges and solutions to conducting a network analysis in a CBO, (2) examining the feasibility of our methodology, and (3) demonstrating the utility of this methodology through an example of a network analysis conducted in a CBO engaging in knowledge mobilization activities. Method The final method used by the partnership team to conduct our network analysis of a CBO is described. Results An example of network analysis results of a CBO engaging in knowledge mobilization is presented. In total, 81 participants completed the network survey. All of the feasibility benchmarks set by the CBO were met. Results of the network analysis are highlighted and discussed as a means of identifying (1) prominent and influential individuals in the knowledge mobilization process and (2) areas for improvement in future knowledge mobilization initiatives. Conclusion Findings demonstrate that network analysis can be feasibly used to provide a rich description of a CBO engaging in knowledge mobilization activities

Starting Off on the Right Foot: Take Proactive Measures to Enhance Project Teams\u27 Performance

Key Findings • The period between a project’s initiation and the project team’s first meeting is a crucial time that can significantly affect the team’s success • Team leaders can use this time effectively to lay the groundwork for their team’s activities via a mobilization strategy, in which a leader researches the team’s objectives, proactively defines members’ roles, and staffs the team based on members’ knowledge, skills and abilities • The amount of a team’s aggregate knowledge, skills and abilities, or human capital, is less important to team effectiveness than is the proper alignment of this human capital with project tasks

Knowledge Mobilization and Network Ambidexterity in a Mandated Healthcare Network: A CLAHRC Case Study

This chapter explores the role of mandated networks in supporting knowledge mobilization. It applies a social network lens to one such network—CLAHRC-NET. Such structures, which have been described in the social network literature as “brokerage,” and “closure,” are seen as supporting knowledge mobilization in two ways. Brokerage is seen as valuable in knowledge “exploration”; namely acquiring and creating new knowledge. Closure involves the development of tight-knit groups of individuals, and is seen as helping to exploit such knowledge by embedding it within practice. The study thus highlights the scope for mandated networks to support knowledge mobilization through formal structures and roles that promote ambidexterity in the development of social ties. This has important implications for policy and practice in relation to the design of such networks. The chapter also serves to underline the value of a social network perspective for addressing the informal social dynamics of formally mandated networks.

Organizational knowledge transfer through creation, mobilization and diffusion: A case analysis of InTouch within Schlumberger

There is a paucity of theory for the effective management of knowledge transfer within large organisations. Practitioners continue to rely upon ‘experimental’ approaches to address the problem. This research attempts to reduce the gap between theory and application, thereby improving conceptual clarity for the transfer of knowledge. The paper, through an in-depth case analysis conducted within Schlumberger, studies the adoption of an intranet-based knowledge management (KM) system (called InTouch) to support, strategically align and transfer knowledge resources. The investigation was undertaken through the adoption of a robust methodological approach (abductive strategy) incorporating the role of technology as an enabler of knowledge management application. Consequently, the study addressed the important question of translating theoretical benefits of KM into practical reality. The research formulates a set of theoretical propositions which are seen as key to the development of an effective knowledge based infrastructure. The findings identify 30 generic attributes that are essential to the creation, mobilisation and diffusion of organisational knowledge. The research makes a significant contribution to identifying a theoretical and empirically based agenda for successful intranet-based KM which will be of benefit to both the academic and practitioner communities. The paper also highlights and proposes important areas for further research

Hubungan Tingkat Pengetahuan Dengan Mobilisasi Dini Pada Ibu Nifas Di Puskesmas Likupang Timur Kecamatan Likupang Timur

: Early mobilization is a treat to guide mother after giving birth to guide mother going out from her bed and walk as soon as possible. The purpose of this research is to find out the correlation of knowledge level with the early mobilization of mother after giving birth at the East Likupang Primary Health Care Subdistrict East Likupang. The research design is analytical survey with cross sectional approach. This research was conducted in East Likupang Primary Health Care on December 6th – 30th 2014. The sample of this research are total sampling with 50 respondents from November and December who fulfill the criteria of inclusion. The instrument of this research used questionnaire. Statistical test using a computerized system by using the chi-square test (X2) at the level of significance 95% (α = 0.05%). The results obtained by the p-value = 0.000 with the level of significance <0.05. This shows there is a meaningful correlation of knowledge level with the early mobilization of mother after giving birth. The conclusion is, the higher of knowledge level and experience that mother gained, the more easy mother do the early mobilization in a appropriate stages

Responding to land degradation in the highlands of Tigray, Northern Ethiopia:

Improving the long-term sustainability and resilience of smallholder agriculture in Africa is highly dependent on conserving or improving the quality of the natural resource. Conservation agriculture is conceived around more integrated and effective management strategies for provisioning both food and other ecosystem services. If unattended to, land degradation would reduce agricultural productivity and increase pressure on marginal environments in the Tigray highlands of Ethiopia, adversely affecting food security and livelihoods of smallholder farmers. This paper answers some pertinent questions about mass mobilization of free compulsory labor for ecological restoration in Tigray. It details perception of changes in climate; the process of collective decisionmaking; resistance, documentation, and enforcement of rules; methods of conflict resolution; knowledge and information networks; arrangements for benefit sharing of communal resources; and the role of gender in mass mobilization for communal work. We analyzed data collected from 20 villages in 3 districts in the Tigray region through a household survey using a structured questionnaire, focus group discussions, and personal observations. The results reveal that the people are motivated to provide their free labor to restore the ecology to increase agricultural productivity and production to avoid food insecurity and improve their general livelihood. Availability of institutions in terms of grassroots organizations and rules and regulations was a major factor in the positive response to the call for action. The commitment of the government at both the national and local levels (through sensitization and mobilization for group formation and provision of tools and construction materials); the ethnic homogeneity of the population; and the existence of the Orthodox Church, where most of the people were members, were major factors for the success of the community mobilization for collective action in Tigray. Social networking with neighbors, the clergy, and leaders of grassroots organizations provided the knowledge and information on climate variability and solutions required to conserve the ecology and improve human livelihood. We also observed that there were no differences in gender division of labor except that women worked half the workload of men in a day; the women also did the cooking and cleaned up the surroundings after eating at the site. Both men and women played active roles in leadership with regard to mobilization of people, communal work planning and scheduling, conflict resolution, and sharing of community products. An impact assessment of the ecological conservation in Tigray on agricultural productivity and production and food security would be useful. It will be interesting to replicate the study in other areas in Ethiopia and other countries where the societies may not be homogenous to find out the level of commitment of the people to communal work.Collective action, ecological restoration, free labor, Land degradation,

Qualitative Inquiry in an Age of Educationalese

In this introduction we reflect on two key questions that initiated this special issue on qualitative inquiry: What can qualitative researchers do to regain their post-paradigm-wars cache? How do we avoid distracting “science wars” in the future? We suggest that the strong tendency to narrow the research methods accepted as “scientific” – because they adopt quantitative perspectives and are presumed a priori to be more rigorous – has created an educationalese, a narrative of rigid categories that has not necessarily contributed to more effective or persuasive educational research. The article ends by suggesting that the use of “knowledge mobilization” strategies would help to strengthen qualitative research and educational research in general