5 key principles and practical tips five principles for effective knowledge exchange

from http://sustainable-learning.org/2014/09/why-is-your-research-not-having-the-impact-you-want/

Principle 1: Design

Know what you want to achieve with your knowledge exchange and design knowledge exchange into environmental management research from the outset

• Set goals for knowledge exchange from the outset
• Devise a knowledge exchange and communications strategy
• Build in flexibility to knowledge exchange plans so they can respond to changing user needs and priorities
• Allocate skilled staff and financial resources to knowledge exchange

Principle 2: Represent

Systematically represent research user knowledge needs and priorities:

• Systematically identify likely users of your research and other relevant stakeholders
• Embed key stakeholders in your research
• Consider the ethical implications of engaging with different stakeholders

Principle 3. Engage

Build long-term, trusting relationships based on two-way dialogue between researchers and stakeholders and co-generate new knowledge about environmental management together

• Engage in two-way dialogue as equals with the likely users of your research
• Build long-term relationships with the users of your research
• Work with knowledge brokers
• Employ a professional facilitator for workshops with research users
• Understand what will motivate research users to get involved in your research
• Create opportunities for informal interaction and learning between researchers and stakeholders
• Work with stakeholders to interpret the implications of your work for policy and practice, and co-design communication products

Principle 4. Impact

Focus on delivering tangible results as soon as possible that will be valued by as many of your stakeholders as possible

• Identify quick wins where tangible impacts can be delivered as early as possible in the research process, to reward and keep likely users of research engaged with the research process
• Get your timing right

Principle 5. Reflect & Sustain

Monitor and reflect on your knowledge exchange, so you can learn and refine your practice, and consider how to sustain a legacy of knowledge exchange beyond project funding

• Regularly reflect with your research team and key stakeholders on how effective your knowledge exchange is
• Learn from your peers and share good practice
• Identify what knowledge exchange needs to continue after research funding has ceased and consider how to sustain this in the longer-term