Achieving buy-in: building networks to facilitate knowledge transfer

This article offers an overview and an evaluation of the process of transferring a complex body of knowledge from a research institute to workplace parties. It includes practical insights into the 'how' of building knowledge transfer networks. It also describes the development of a network-based strategy to transfer knowledge about workplace safety/ergonomics to a group of practitioner-based associations within Ontario's Health & Safety Prevention system. The purpose of the practitioner network was to have them become knowledge brokers of the research linking to multiple workplaces in many different sectors. This strategy builds on the theoretical frameworks of knowledge transfer and network theory. Through multiple group interactions, the practitioners became familiar with the research, identified matching concepts between the research and their experiences, saw the research as relevant, adopted the principles of the research, and went on to apply it with their client workplaces.