‘The end is just the beginning.’
The Institutional KS project staged two KS workshops, one jointly with FAO, and two social media workshops to demonstrate the role and value of sharing institutional and scientific knowledge within research organizations. Participants learned how to apply KS and social media concepts and approaches and to interact effectively with CGIAR staff and research partners. A total of about 130 people from 13 CGIAR centers and ten partner organizations attended the workshops. A pool of facilitators, drawing on workshop participants among others, is being created for future events. “It’s what we, the participants, make of it — contacts, the Toolkit, links, and so forth, which are all there for us to pick up and use. That leaves one with a good feeling, like the end of the course is just the beginning.” Andrea Pape-Christiansen, ICARDA, KS workshop participant Social Media Online Workshops Resources
Rational: Today, Communications within the CG must go beyond scientific journal articles, press releases, or static web sites to engage the users of our research in new ways. Social media is an alternative to traditional mass-media that may allow the CGIAR to target its audience in different and more effective manners. In addition to the exiting forms of communication and marketing of our research processes and results, social media has a huge potential for the CGIAR to increase its visibility, participate in conversations and debates around our research areas, and strengthen relationships with peers, partners and actors in our field of work. Objective of the workshop: Introduce researchers, communications professionals and knowledge sharing practitioners to social media tools and support their social media strategy development. As a participant, you will:
- Obtain an understanding and appreciation of the role and value of social media.
- Learn how to apply social media concepts and tools to both gather information and increase the dissemination of your information.
- Learn how to apply social media concepts and tools for collaboration and interaction with your organization’s staff and partners.
- Learn from participants of mixed professional and organizational backgrounds.
Outline of the 3-week event
- Week 1 – Introductions, conversations and assessment of your communications needs and goals.
- Week 2 – Social Media Tools (wikis, blogs, twitter, file and photo sharing, and many more). You can join the exploration of a range of tools or start a new discussion on tools of your own choice.
- Week 3 – Social Media Tools and strategies. How these tools can help you to achieve your knowledge sharing goals. Develop your strategy.
Facilitators: Nancy White (Full Circle Associates), Simone Staiger-Rivas (CGIAR-CIAT), Petr Kosina (CIMMYT), Meena Arivananthan (CGIAR-WorldFish)
KS WorkshopsFAO-CGIAR KS Workshop Workshop First Edition The KS Workshop is an activity of the Institutional Knowledge Sharing (IKS) project, and offered in the framework of the ICT-KM Program of the CGIAR. KS Workshop Overview Rational for the workshop development: More than 30 years after participatory research approaches emerged, we still face formidable obstacles to take up, use, and ultimately achieve impact from the results of CGIAR agricultural research. One missing element is the appropriate and effective sharing of knowledge, whether within our institutions, between Centers, or with our partners. At the same time, new and effective approaches and tools have been developed and proven to strengthen collaboration. Recent possibilities of Participatory Web open new doors to more inclusive and transparent collaboration for excellence.
In this context, the ICT-KM Program of the CGIAR has been offering a first Knowledge Sharing Workshop. The overall expected result was for participants to obtain an understanding and appreciation of the role and value of KS in research and institutional arenas; to undergo experiences on how to apply KS concepts and approaches; and interact effectively with CGIAR staff and research partners. Case Scenario
Joe Researcher has been working on a smallholder cacao project in Ecuador. He gradually realizes his role is not only that of a researcher, but also as mediator in his project partners’ network between his fellow scientists and the cacao farmers. When he reframes his work to consider how knowledge emerges, flows, and is shared across the project, he was amazed to discover how productive and focused his team became. Three of his early lessons were
(1) network weaving - finding and connecting people; (2) convening useful gatherings for project work; and (3) keeping the project information flow moving outwards. He used to think the third lesson or area was his priority, but discovered that without the first two areas, the information was often ignored or misapplied. After investing in the three areas, he finds that, in fact, he had more time to do his research and easier access to his partners for consultations. The workshop design is allowing CGIAR colleagues and partners to work in an innovative
3-phase action-research-based design: • Phase 1 – DISCOVER: 4-week-long online event. We (a) explored knowledge-sharing challenges and opportunities, (b) discussed and experimented with possible ways to make the most out of face-to-face and virtual collaboration, and (c) explore the crucial role of networks in research projects and institutional settings. March 24–April 18, 2008
• Phase 2 – FOCUS: 3-day face-to-face meeting. We will work in teams to understand more in-depth those of the participants’ specific interests that were identified during phase 1. We will also design activities that participants can then implement. May 6–8, 2008 at ILRI Campus in Addis Ababa
• Phase 3 – APPLY: With virtual support from a coach, participants will apply the KS principles and methods covered in phases 1 and 2. These experiences will be documented in a joint publication. May to end of September 2008 Participants are choosing to participate in phases 1, 1+2, or 1+2+3 of the course. The workshop methodology is based on action learning principles and offers a systemic approach to KS. The facilitators and participants actively reflected and jointly explored opportunities, using blogs, wikis, and other virtual collaboration tools. We experienced different meeting techniques, draw network maps, and used KS principles and tools throughout the activities. All course materials and contents were developed in an open access environment and are considered as a global public good. In phase 3, care will be taken to design activities that are feasible, that is, possible for the time and resources available. Target Group: The workshop has been designed for Researchers, HR managers, Communications Officers, IT Managers, and all those who are interested in learning about effective and interactive communications. Content of phase 1: • Week 1: Welcome and introductory messages, as well as to a network mapping exercise with the objectives of (1) getting to know each other, (2) build a learning community, and (3) share our working / project / team environments
• Week 2: Better grasp the audiences and purposes of our KS activities through the network maps analysis and the discussion on “Whom do we share knowledge with?”
• Week 3: Exploring tools and methods as a means to achieve KS purposes and reach targeted audiences. Several discussion topics are suggested based on participant’s feedback and input
• Week 4: A space and time for digging in deeper in participants’ specific areas of interest, again in form of group discussions Course Development Team and Facilitators - Nancy White
Nancy works with organizations to strengthen collaboration and communication online and offline. She has a special interest in online facilitation, teams and communities of practice, and whole systems change. She is currently writing a book on technologies in support of communities and learning graphic facilitation. - Petr Kosina
Petr is the Knowledge Sharing and Capacity Building Coordinator at CIMMYT (Mexico). He has a background in biological sciences and education. His responsibilities include course design and development, facilitation of knowledge-sharing processes (both inside and outside institutions), and “soft skills” development. Petr is responsible for the knowledge management components of several CIMMYT projects. - Lucie Lamoureux
Lucie is an information professional with 8 years’ experience in knowledge management within the field of international development. Her main focus is capacity or skills development, specifically, knowledge-sharing approaches and online networking. She also regularly designs and facilitates face-to-face meetings. - Simone Staiger-Rivas
Simone is leader of the Institutional Knowledge Sharing Project. She is a trained social communicator with 13 years’ experience in the coordination of electronic communications projects. Her interest lies in the enhancement of collaboration in institutional settings that contribute to organizational learning and change. Simone is based at CIAT, Colombia. - Peter Shelton
Peter is an Information and Knowledge Management Specialist at IFPRI. He has a background in soil science, farmer training, and environmental education. His responsibilities include managing institutional databases and web sites and training research staff in using new information technologies to support their work. Pete is based in Washington D.C. in the US. - Gauri Salokhe
Gauri is information professional with 8 year's experience in information management. She is working on KM at FAO and has been promoting knowledge sharing through her many projects. Her interests lie in developing skills and ideas that encourage and enhance sharing. Gauri is based in Rome, Italy.
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