Dynamic Knowledge Transfer: A Strategy to Dynamic Knowledge Transfer: A Strategy to Improve Knowledge Flow Among Workplace Improve Knowledge Flow Among Workplace

Health and Safety Researchers in Eastern Health and Safety Researchers in Eastern CanadaCanada

Robert ParentRobert ParentMario RoyMario Roy

LiseLise DesmaraisDesmaraisFacultéFaculté d’administrationd’administration

UniversitéUniversité de de SherbrookeSherbrooke

Working NameWorking NameThe Eastern Canada The Eastern Canada

Consortium on Consortium on Workplace Health & Safety Workplace Health & Safety

(ECCWHS)(ECCWHS)

Consortium ObjectivesConsortium Objectives

Enhance the capacity for work on the analysis and prevention of injuries and occupational diseases in rural and remote Atlantic Canadian workplaces

Identify best practices for Knowledge Transfer (KT) developed in Québec

Investigate ways these can be applied to rural and remote, resource-dependent environments in Newfoundland and Labrador

Consortium Objectives Consortium Objectives (cont’d)(cont’d)

Use action-research methods to test and refine KT practices

Get research results into the hands of decision makers and workplaces in a timely manner

MethodologyMethodologyLearning HistoryLearning History (Developed in the late 1990’s (Developed in the late 1990’s at MIT’s Center for Organizational Learning)at MIT’s Center for Organizational Learning)

–– The learning history (LH) presents, via reflective interviews, The learning history (LH) presents, via reflective interviews, the experiences and understandings of participants the experiences and understandings of participants –– people people who initiated, implemented and participated in organizational who initiated, implemented and participated in organizational transformation efforts, or some collaborative learning transformation efforts, or some collaborative learning experienceexperience

The documentThe document–– Tells de story in participants’ own wordsTells de story in participants’ own words–– Reports actions and resultsReports actions and results–– Describes learning methods and techniquesDescribes learning methods and techniques–– Includes descriptions of the underlying assumptions and Includes descriptions of the underlying assumptions and

reasoning that led to people’s actionsreasoning that led to people’s actions

Guiding Questions Guiding Questions

•• What are the factors that facilitate or impede health What are the factors that facilitate or impede health and safety knowledge transfer in and between and safety knowledge transfer in and between organizations?organizations?

•• How does knowledge about workplace health and How does knowledge about workplace health and safety gained in one culture get transferred to safety gained in one culture get transferred to another culture?another culture?

•• How can WHS knowledge gained from urban, How can WHS knowledge gained from urban, industrialized settings be transferred to rural and industrialized settings be transferred to rural and remote environments? remote environments?

AdditionalAdditional QuestionsQuestions

•• How can new knowledge (i.e. research How can new knowledge (i.e. research findings) about workplace health and safety findings) about workplace health and safety be transferred effectively from the producers be transferred effectively from the producers to the users of that knowledge?to the users of that knowledge?

•• How can we best measure health and safety How can we best measure health and safety knowledge transfer?knowledge transfer?

Definition of WHS KnowledgeDefinition of WHS Knowledge

“WHS Knowledge is an organized representation of Workplace Health & Safety reality held to be true either based on experimentation, experience, practice, scienceor beliefs”.

Roy, M., Parent, R., Desmarais, L. (2003)

Definition of Knowledge TransferDefinition of Knowledge Transfer(Knowledge Translation)(Knowledge Translation)

““The exchange, synthesis and ethicallyThe exchange, synthesis and ethically--sound application of knowledge sound application of knowledge –– within a within a complex system of interactions among complex system of interactions among researchers and users researchers and users –– to accelerate the to accelerate the capture of the benefits of research for capture of the benefits of research for Canadians through improved health, more Canadians through improved health, more effective services and products, and a effective services and products, and a strengthened healthcare system”.strengthened healthcare system”.

Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), 2003Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), 2003

KNOWLEDGE SUPPORT NETWORK ON WHSKNOWLEDGE SUPPORT NETWORK ON WHS

SAFETYNET

SAFETYSAFETYNETNET

IRSST*IRSSTIRSST**

Union andUnion andManagementManagementAssociationsAssociations

GovernmentGovernmentAgenciesAgencies

OrganizationsOrganizations

CÉOT**CÉOTCÉOT****

* IRSST : Institut de recherche Robert Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail**CÉOT : Chaire d’étude en organisation du travail

Creations of the ConsortiumCreations of the Consortium

•• Rapid Interprovincial KT Initiatives Rapid Interprovincial KT Initiatives (Quick Hits)(Quick Hits)

•• Knowledge Translation Research Knowledge Translation Research LaboratoryLaboratory

•• Pilot ProjectsPilot Projects

•• Collaboration Tools (Collaboration Tools (SametimeSametime Quick Quick Place)Place)

•• Interdisciplinary MultiInterdisciplinary Multi--Site SeminarSite Seminar

•• Funding and Training for ResearchersFunding and Training for Researchers

Preliminary FindingsPreliminary Findings

•• Workplace Health & Safety Workplace Health & Safety NetworkNetwork–– Québec has a strong integrated networkQuébec has a strong integrated network–– Newfoundland doesn’tNewfoundland doesn’t

•• “Quick Hits” “Quick Hits” –– Developed using a push approach were Developed using a push approach were

unsuccessfulunsuccessful–– Now in the process of facilitating a pull approachNow in the process of facilitating a pull approach

•• Considerable Considerable researcherresearcher time and effort involved in time and effort involved in engaging recipients and building a networkengaging recipients and building a network

•• The use of virtual tools to facilitate collaboration The use of virtual tools to facilitate collaboration requires considerable time and effort on the part of requires considerable time and effort on the part of researchersresearchers

The Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) Network in Québec and the Newfoundland & Labrador Equivalents

Robert-SauvéWorkplace Health

and Safety Institute~ No NL. equivalent

Workplaces – WHS Committee/Representative

Ministère du travail~ Department of Human Resources, Labour &

Employment

Ministère de la santé et des services sociaux

~ Department of Health andCommunity Services

CSST regionaldepartments (21)• prevention/inspection• compensation/

rehabilitation~ Workplace Health, Safety & Compensation Commission

CSST regionaldepartments (21)• prevention/inspection• compensation/

rehabilitation~ Workplace Health, Safety & Compensation Commission

ADTLSSSM(15)* public health division

•regional workplace health team~ Regional Health BoardsJoint sectoral

safetyassociations (12)~ Sectoral SafetyAssociations (2)

Joint sectoralsafetyassociations (12)~ Sectoral SafetyAssociations (2) CLSC

(Local community services centres)

•local workplace health team~ no NL equivalent

Permanent committee

Regionalconsultation tables