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

Knowledge Management in <strong>the</strong> Quebec Mining Industry: A
Framework <strong>of</strong> Practice to Ensure Evidence-Based
Knowledge Translation
Charles Gagné 1 , Louis Lazure 1 , Élise Ledoux 1 , Sylvie Ouellet 1 , Pierre-Sébastien
Fournier 2
1
Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST),
Montreal, Canada
2
Management Department, Faculty <strong>of</strong> Business Administration, Université
Laval, Quebec, Canada
gagne.charles@irsst.qc.ca
lazure.louis@irsst.qc.ca
ledoux.elise@irsst.qc.ca
ouellet.sylvie@irsst.qc.ca
pierre-sebastien.fournier@fsa.ulaval.ca
Abstract: Demographic changes in recent decades in industrialized countries and changes in <strong>the</strong> working world
are introducing major challenges regarding <strong>the</strong> question <strong>of</strong> age management and knowledge management. To
better understand <strong>the</strong>se issues and <strong>the</strong>ir impacts on occupational health and safety, <strong>the</strong> Institut de recherche
Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST) has developed a research program that focuses on
knowledge management in different industries. In this context, an IRSST research team was asked by Quebec
mining stakeholders to document <strong>the</strong> mining sector conditions that favour a safe and competent integration <strong>of</strong>
new workers (<strong>of</strong> varying ages and occupational paths), particularly <strong>the</strong> conditions that foster knowledge
transmission between experienced and new workers. To support <strong>the</strong> research team’s work and promote an
appropriation <strong>of</strong> evidence-based knowledge by <strong>the</strong> stakeholders/end-users, a Knowledge Transfer Advisor (KTA)
was integrated into <strong>the</strong> research team. This approach is integral to <strong>the</strong> framework <strong>of</strong> practice <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Research and
Knowledge Translation Cycle developed by <strong>the</strong> IRSST. The framework was developed through a rigorous
process led by knowledge transfer researchers and KTAs on <strong>the</strong> basis <strong>of</strong> an extensive scientific literature review.
This paper presents <strong>the</strong> IRSST-developed Research and Knowledge Translation Cycle and <strong>the</strong> conditions
implemented in <strong>the</strong> context <strong>of</strong> this research project to enhance stakeholder participation in <strong>the</strong> KT activities held.
Keywords: Experience and expertise transfer, Knowledge exchange, Knowledge utilization, Framework <strong>of</strong>
practice, Stakeholders
1. Introduction
Knowledge translation (KT) is an increasingly widespread practice in <strong>the</strong> research community
(Graham, 2006). In fact, while research-generated knowledge is recognized as improving
organizational performance (De long, 2000) and public policies, studies by Landry et al (2004) have
shown that scientific literature is not considered a primary source <strong>of</strong> information by organizations, and
it <strong>the</strong>refore appears that additional efforts are required to reach end-users. We have no choice but to
acknowledge that a good portion <strong>of</strong> research results are not necessarily transferred to <strong>the</strong> potential
users. The production <strong>of</strong> new scientific knowledge does not guarantee that it will be applied. To
promote knowledge translation, a process involving a series <strong>of</strong> activities must be put in place (Ward,
2010). An overview <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> scientific literature reveals that <strong>the</strong> following conditions are essential to
achieving effective knowledge translation: personal contacts must be established between
researchers and stakeholders/end-users (Innvaer, 2002; Reardon, 2006); <strong>the</strong> stakeholders (SHs)
must be continuously involved throughout <strong>the</strong> research process (Lomas, 2000; Wilson et al, 2010);
<strong>the</strong> research results must be made available to <strong>the</strong> SHs at <strong>the</strong> appropriate time to ensure <strong>the</strong>ir use
(Innvaer, 2002); <strong>the</strong> results must be relevant and applicable to facilitate <strong>the</strong>ir actual appropriation by
workplaces (Zahra & George, 2002; Kramer & Cole, 2003); and <strong>the</strong> stakeholders/end-users must
collaborate with <strong>the</strong> researchers to adapt and implement <strong>the</strong> research results (Bourdouxhe 2003;
Henriksen et al., 2004). Knowledge translation in <strong>the</strong> field <strong>of</strong> occupational health and safety faces <strong>the</strong>
same challenges.
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