Proceedings of the 12th European Conference on Knowledge ...

4 : Mobilization <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>
world
5 : Public
Representation
Alexander K. K<strong>of</strong>inas and Abdallah Al-Shawakbeh
justification processes needed.”
(Researcher 1)
Relevance:
Here we have <strong>the</strong> use <strong>of</strong> a pop reference (mr.
Smith) to enhance <strong>the</strong> Bx myth <strong>of</strong> creativity
and innovation vs <strong>the</strong> CIS mode.
“The CIS guys have never liked Ensembl inhouse
as <strong>the</strong>re has been a public alternative.
There was a fight to keep it in-house, but a
positive development was that <strong>the</strong> users loved
it (much anecdotal evidence). However once
Genie appeared on <strong>the</strong> scene, support for
Ensembl from users disappeared. Despite all
<strong>the</strong>se <strong>the</strong> Ensembl initiative kept going.”
(Bx Scientist 3)
Relevance:
Dual myth making: focusing on <strong>the</strong> Ensembl
tool people focus on <strong>the</strong> use <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> tool to
attract <strong>the</strong> users and create <strong>the</strong> sense <strong>of</strong>
success. The idea <strong>of</strong> conflict gives fur<strong>the</strong>r
credit to <strong>the</strong> myth. The us and against <strong>the</strong>m
(CIS vs Bx).
“Initially no RA scientists were involved with
Ensembl. The web-interface was added as an
afterthought. User feedback forms/Internal
help desks, training events and informal
meeting were used to enrich Ensembl. After
roll-out <strong>the</strong>re was focus on usability. This
evolution. reflects <strong>the</strong> changes in Bx where
from <strong>the</strong> “Power Users” we are moving to
“everyone uses”.
(Bx Scientist 1)
Relevance:
Systems are perceived as a way to engage <strong>the</strong>
wider community with <strong>the</strong> new tools and in
extension with <strong>the</strong> Bx function as an
organisational entity. That becomes part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>
Bx mythology: pioneers who bring relevant
data to <strong>the</strong> research community
in reverse. In research areas <strong>the</strong>y
would appreciate rapid response teams
that would give quick solutions. But Dx
Ix can not afford <strong>the</strong> staff. Immediately
put process in place instead <strong>of</strong> creating
rapid response teams. There should be
an interface between <strong>the</strong> two cultures
and not a struggle for domination.”
(Bx Scientist 2)
Relevance:
At <strong>the</strong> same time a quote that
demonstrates <strong>the</strong> political struggles that
<strong>the</strong> Bx function faced as well as <strong>the</strong>
mythology involved in <strong>the</strong> formation <strong>of</strong>
<strong>the</strong> Bx function with <strong>the</strong> emphasis on
<strong>the</strong> differences in <strong>the</strong> ways it operates.
“Ian and some o<strong>the</strong>r Bx members saw
a disconnect between <strong>the</strong> Bx group and
<strong>the</strong>ir user base.” “Ian had much conflict
over <strong>the</strong>re with issues <strong>of</strong> user
involvement. Conflict between
academic Bxs (doing things that are
more important in an academic Bx
sense) and more pragmatic Bxs. In
addition <strong>the</strong>re was a disconnect
between drug discovery people and
CIS people.”
(Research Scientist 1)
Relevance:
An example where <strong>the</strong> researcher
identifies <strong>the</strong> political struggle among
<strong>the</strong> main three actors from <strong>the</strong> way <strong>the</strong>y
treat and utilise <strong>the</strong> inanimate actor (TD
in this case) which becomes
instrumental in <strong>the</strong> political struggle
among <strong>the</strong> three groups.
“Much <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> recent changes probably
had to do with changes in
management. A new manager comes
in… <strong>the</strong>re is (Bx Director’s) legacy
system and in order to prove that <strong>the</strong>re
has been some change he changes <strong>the</strong>
legacy system…”
(Bx Scientist 4)
Relevance:
The public’s perception <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Bx
function changes as <strong>the</strong> management
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Bx Function changes. The
change from legacy to new system is
politics in action. One can already see
<strong>the</strong> shift in political power back in 2005
from Bx to <strong>the</strong> newly formed Discovery
Ix.
From <strong>the</strong> analysis <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> material coded we were able to derive <strong>the</strong> story <strong>of</strong> creating <strong>the</strong> Bx function in
PharmaCo and <strong>the</strong> importance <strong>of</strong> creating an organisational space to absorb <strong>the</strong> new knowledge
created from <strong>the</strong> Human Genome Project.
1016