Knowledge management in a small knowledge intensive organisation: research design process at the Cochrane Child Health Field

Abstract

At the Cochrane Child Health Field, we embarked on a complex project to develop short one-page clinical summaries of health evidence to answer questions posed by paediatricians. Subsequently, our priority was to test these ‘Clinical Answers’ (CAs) to ensure that our product was meeting their needs. This paper provides a reflection of the process of developing a research design to evaluate the CAs format, particularly focusing on the process of partnership. Schön's concept of reflection-on-action is used as a framework.

Keywords:

• communities of practice
• innovation
• organisational learning
• networks
• reflective practice
• small teams

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Denise Thomson and Jennifer Seida for providing feedback on an earlier version of this manuscript.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Iva Seto

About the authors

Iva Seto is a Research Coordinator for the Cochrane Child Health Field, housed within the Alberta Research Centre for Health Evidence (ARCHE) at the University of Alberta. She holds degrees in molecular genetics, comparative literature, and information science. Her research interests include knowledge management, reflective practice, knowledge translation, and boundary spanning.

Brad Arkison

Brad Arkison is an Associate Director at Evaluation and Research Services, University of Alberta. He has extensive experience in evaluation design and implementation within K-12 and post-secondary teaching and learning environments. Brad's research interests include the utility and usability of social software and mobile devices in educational settings.

Katrina Williams

Katrina Williams is a paediatrician and public health physician. She is a Co-Director of the Cochrane Child Health Field and is the APEX Australia Chair of Developmental Medicine at the University of Melbourne and Director of the Department of Developmental Medicine at the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne, Australia. Her research interests include systematic review and clinical epidemiology methodology and the application of these methods to research in developmental disabilities and translating evidence into practice.