ARCHIVED – Summative Evaluation of the Metropolis Project Phase II: Knowledge Transfer Activities and Impacts
Appendix E: Knowledge broker functions / roles
The following definitions of knowledge broker functions / roles are taken from “Knowledge Transfer & Public Policy: A Literature Review and Synthesis” (Harley Dickinson, July 2007)
- User System Mobilizer
- is an individual or organization that “forcefully, sometimes through protest actions” draws attention to unmet needs and interests among service recipient groups.
- Implementation Assister
- is primarily concerned with the utilization of knowledge after it has been successfully transferred to potential users.
- Relay Station
- passes on messages. These messages can be passed on in person, but more commonly published literature or reports of various kinds are sent to potential users for their information.
- Transformer
- is a function involving knowledge brokers changing the form or the content of the original message (knowledge) in some way to make it more interesting, attractive, clear and useful to potential users.
- Synthesizer
- entails creating a single, new, useful message through the synthesis of knowledge from a variety of sources.
- Locator
- entails the knowledge broker identifying unmet needs of both knowledge producers/providers and knowledge users, and tries to help them form a relationship.
- Linkage Catalyst
- brings producers and users together, often informally, in an attempt to help them form a collaborative relationship. When the relationship is initiated, withdraws from it and lets it take its own course.
- Linkage Process Facilitator
- has expertise, possibly including formal training, in the many steps and conditions necessary to form inter-system collaborative relationships. Have specialized training and explicit responsibility for facilitating the formation and functioning of sustainable collaborations between knowledge producers and users.
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