1. Building a Knowledge Mobilization
Strategy for Research Projects
Michael Johnny, Manager
Knowledge Mobilization Unit
York University

2. Overview
1. Building a KMb plan for a research project – strategic framework
2. Tools – resources to assist KMb planning
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3. So what IS knowledge mobilization?
http://www.youtube.com/researchimpact#p/u/7/1IzYtrQq3zc
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4. Context – institutional knowledge mobilization services
Knowledge Mobilization
Research Producer User
Summaries Research
Push Exchange Pull Translation
Research (KE)
(KT) (KT) Help Desk
Translation
Help Desk
co-production
partnerships CBR
Research Partnerships Research Forums Community Based Research
KMb Interns KM in AM
Social Media
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5. KMb Partnerships throughout the Research Cycle
Plan Consultation
Wikis, blogs Partnerships
Web site Research forum
Town hall
Theatre
Posters
public policy
Policy brief Disseminate Execute
professional practice
PSA
Practice Populations
guideline Clinical practice
Popular press Intervention
Social studies
Marketing Internships
Evaluate
Researcher
exchange
Surveys, case studies, expert panelists
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6. KMb Summary
1. Acknowledge the confusion around terminology (KM,
KMb, KT, KTE, KU, RU, K*
2. At the basis of KMb is the two-way exchange processes.
3. Co-production distinguishes KMb from:
– Knowledge Translation (often thought as one way push)
– Knowledge Transfer and Exchange
(which does support active two-way exchange)
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7. 1. Knowledge Mobilization Research Planning Template
Objectives
– KMb planning for research purposes.
Deliverable
- Following these steps will help provide a comprehensive
KMb plan
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8. Acknowledgements
Adapted by research and development from:
Dr. Melanie Barwick
The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto
and
Dr. Donna Lockett
KT Consultant
Scientist Knowledge Translation Training, 2009
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9. KMb Research Planning Template – 13 steps
1. Identify Partners
2. Partner Engagement
3. KMb Expertise
4. Main Messages (for research projects)
5. Audiences
6. Goals
7. Methods
8. Process
9. Impact
10. Partners Role
11. Resources Required
12. Related Budget Items
13. Estimated Costs
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10. Step 1 – Research Partners
 Researchers
 Public / Consumers Brokers Bits
 Decision Makers (org, comm, York U Knowledge
govt) Brokers can help
identify
 Policy Makers (govt, comm) collaborators for a
research project.
 Private Sector Leveraging the
national network,
 Funding Body we can help find
research expertise
from across
Canada.
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11. Step 2 – Partner Engagement
Option A
Brokers Bits
- Initial – from conception to grave
What does the
term ‘partner’
Option B mean to you? Is
your expectation
- Early - After conception to grave clear and
consistent with
those you’re
collaborating with?
Option C
Be explicit from
- End - Dissemination / Project End only the beginning.
Meaningful
engagement
Option D requires honest,
respectful
- Beyond the project (ongoing, extended) dialogue.
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12. Step 3 – KMb Expertise Needed?
Lots of options to consider:
Brokers Bits
• Researcher with KMb expertise So why a dedicated
knowledge broker?
• Consultant with KMb expertise
Sometimes, simply
• Knowledge Broker / Specialist creating
knowledge/products
• Organizational KMb support is not good enough.
• KMb support within the partner Brokers can help
organization move knowledge
into action using an
• Project Manager with KMb responsibility array of tools and
activities, tailored to
the needs of your
audiences.
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13. Step 4 – Main Messages
What messages do you anticipate
sharing?
• Briefly, what your
research/project seeks to:
• You can consider this for multiple
audiences
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14. Step 5 – KMb Audiences
What audiences will you target?
• Researchers
Brokers Bits
• Practitioners / Service
Providers This is an important
element to consider.
• Public
Understanding your
• Media audience(s) will help
shape the work you
• Consumers will do.
• Decision Makers
Not all audiences
• Policy makers want to receive
information the
• Private Sector / Industry same way.
• Other
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15. Step 6 – KMb Goals
Are you seeking to:
Generate
Brokers Bits
• Awareness
• Interest
Always consider the
• Practice change ethical and legal
• Behaviour change principles in your
• Policy Action KMb efforts.
Consider goals for
Impart each audience
• Knowledge group you’re
• Tools engaging.
Inform
• Research
• Policy
• Practice
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16. Step 7 – KMb Methods
What KMb methods/activities will
you use? Brokers Bits
York has structured their
• Broker / KMb Specialist activity into three
• Research Summaries streams:
• Website / IT
• Multi stakeholder collaboration People – capacity
building, internships,
• Mass Media Campaign and educational efforts
• Financial Intervention/Incentive
• Performance Feedback Spaces – creating space
• Capacity Building / Training for people to meet and
interact
• Peer Reviewed Publication
• Conference Projects – user
• Social Media Tools generated collaborative
• Others... project
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17. Step 8 – KMb Process – when will KMb occur?
Option 1
Integrated KMb – researchers and research users
will shape the research process (setting
questions, methodology, tools, analysis,
dissemination...)
Option 2
End of Grant KMb – KMb activities are employed
once the project is completed
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18. Step 8 – …and can the KMb Unit at York help?
Academic Non Academic
Dissemination - Traditionally scholarly - Clear language research
publication summary
- Academic conference - Non-traditional forms of
presentation dissemination (such as theatre)
- Web posting of outputs - Social media
Integrated - Academic collaborators - Non-academic collaborators or
on grant co-applicants on grant
- Scholarly workshops application
throughout the grant - Workshop, town hall, open
- Hosting a wiki or blog to house
create two-way - Hosing a wiki or blog to create
conversation two way conversation
- Workshop w/ peers to - Participatory action /
reflect on emerging community-based research
research findings - * This all takes time
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19. Step 9 – KMb Impact – behaviour, practice, policy, research
How will you evaluate impact?
• Reach Indicators
• Copies Distributed
• Copies Requested
• # downloads, hits, visits
• Media Exposure
• Usefulness Indicators
• Satisfied With
• Usefulness of
• Changed Views
• Gained Knowledge
• Use Indicators
• # intend to use
• # adapting the information
• # using to inform policy/practice
• Partnership Indicators (#’s) 19

20. Step 10 – Partners Roles
How will partners assist in developing,
implementing or evaluating the KMb plan?
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21. Step 11 – Required Resources
What resources do you require?
• Human
• Financial
• IT
• Web
• Leadership
• Management
• Workers
• Board
• Volunteer
• Others
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22. Step 12/13 – Budget Items / Estimated Costs
Identify budget items related
to your plan
• Knowledge Broker
• Project Manager / KMb
Specialist
• Clear Language Writer
• Web development / IT
• Travel
• Workshops / Venue
• Public Relations
• Web 2.0 (social media)
• Others
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23. ‘Tools’ for building a KMb / KT Strategy
KMb Strategy Table
1. Activity (and matching audiences)
2. Outcomes (and outcome indicators)
3. Impact (and desired timelines)
Summary (paragraph or page)
- What are you going to do (objectives)
- How are you planning to do this (activities)
- Who are your audience(s)/collaborators
- What will result from this work, and how
will you demonstrate it.
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24. Michael Johnny
mjohnny@yorku.ca
http://www.researchimpact.ca