1. Self-Assessment Tool Exploring Organizational Capacity to Use Research

2. Self-Assessment Tool Overview the context the CHSRF tool relevance to knowledge brokers group work final thoughts

3. Context: Research Use Efforts to help healthcare organizations develop “research-informed” culture Often relies on identifying leaders who can promote organizational/cultural change However leaders are only a part of the equation …

4. Limitations of Leadership “…the search for leaders might actually divert our attention from a deeper need—the need to understand why it is that those institutions find it so hard to evolve in the first place…” Senge, P. (1998). Towards an ecology of leadership: An emerging systems theory of leadership, and profound organizational change. Cambridge, MA: MIT Sloan School

5. If Not Leaders, Then What? The Foundation’ focuses on several key dimensions of organizational capacity to use research. Acquiring: Can you find and obtain the findings you need? Assessing: Can you assess research findings to ensure they are reliable, relevant, and applicable to you? Adapting: Can you adapt the research to make it ‘work’ in the local context? Applying: Do you have skills, structures, processes, and culture to promote and use research findings in decision-making?

6. How Does the Self-Assessment Tool fit in? CHSRF’s self-assessment tool is NOT: A test you take that gives you a “score” to compare yourself to like organizations A diagnostic tool that identifies “symptoms” in your organization, and appropriate “cures” Something that provides “the answer” to a specific problem. So what is the tool and what does it do?

7. How Does the Self-Assessment Tool fit in? CHSRF’s self-assessment tool IS : A resource for individuals who would like to advance the role of evidence in their organization A tool to structure a discussion around research use priorities and needs A way to clarify needs and establish priorities Support for resource allocation decisions

8. Background  Purpose: to help health service and policy organizations evaluate their capacity to use research results, in addition to more common forms of evidence, when making management and policy decisions Developed in 2000/ 2001 Iterative process

9. History Tool used sporadically from 2000 – 2003 Usability and responsiveness assessment (2003-2004) Tool adopted by others Revisions (2005) Re-launch (Today)

10. Usability Assessment 34 organizations recruited from 4 health sectors including: Long-term care facilities Government departments and branches Community and public health organizations NGOs

11. Some Key Messages “The tool was useful in bringing about discussion of research within organization, bi-directionally among levels, including research utilization and awareness of local context” (Long-term care facility) “One group came to the new (to them) realization that not only can research be used for clinical practice decisions but also to help organizations work more effectively.” (Hospital) “The discussion … was extraordinarily valuable beyond your research project, in terms of having a better understanding of how things work at the corporate end of things.” (NGO).

12. The Self-Assessment Tool for Knowledge Brokers? To be effective, knowledge brokers need to understand all communities they serve and bridge.

13. How can the Self-Assessment Tool support knowledge brokers? Use the tool to: facilitate dialogue identify needs tailor support

14. Facilitating the dialogue Setting aside the appropriate time Need time dedicated to an open and engaging discussion Identifying the right group ? someone influential ? someone enthusiastic about using evidence

15. Identifying needs Four key dimensions of organizational capacity to use research Acquiring Assessing Adapting Applying Identify areas where capacity development is warranted

16. Tailoring support Support capacity development efforts Build on strengths while supporting weaknesses Bring down barriers through facilitating factors

17. Now YOUR Turn

18. Facilitating the dialogue: How do we launch the dialogue? Getting the topic on the agenda Creating an open / unthreatening environment Who is the right group? Group composition Group size Group dynamics Barriers / challenges? Ideas / approaches?

20. Identifying needs: Understanding the 4 A’s (acquiring, assessing, adapting, applying) How do we get an accurate depiction of the situation? All voices heard Balance between ‘necessity’ and ‘nice to have’ Barriers / challenges? Ideas / approaches?

22. Tailoring support How do we prioritize support? Internal resources versus external resources capacity development efforts How do we make use of what exists? Ensuring appropriate individuals within the organizations recognize existing resources / services When do we re-assess? Barriers / challenges? Ideas / approaches?