The growth and influence of knowledge brokering for public sector reform

Governments rely on access to, and the capacity to use, rigorous evidence to solve social and economic problems and ensure public policymaking institutions remain fit-for-purpose. However, discrete cultural norms and institutional structures maintain a gap between academic research and government practice, impeding decision-makers’ use of research evidence and the public value that flows from it. It is within this gap that knowledge brokering has emerged and operates. In this paper we will: detail the demand for, and use of, knowledge brokering by governments; map the growing ecosystem, or supply, of knowledge brokering organisations; and detail the strategies knowledge brokers see as effective and useful for influencing public sector reform. Knowledge brokers are the organisations and individual interlocutors at the nexus of research and practice, who work across institutional boundaries to create new knowledge networks and promote the use of evidence in decision-making. Knowledge brokers have a critical role to play in promoting the systemic and behaviour changes necessary to build the knowledge networks that support evidence-based decision making. Our research identifies the skills and strategies required to navigate different knowledge structures and facilitate evidence-based decision making within the political contexts of Australia and New Zealand. To test the demand for university-produced research evidence, we analysed Australian and New Zealand Government procurement data for external consultancy services to trace research and brokering relationships between governments and universities. In addition to establishing government demand, the data provides insight into how research is commissioned – including trends towards known actors and the power of established networks and relationships; and where in the decision-making process research evidence is being used. At the same time, we also note the growing external pressure on universities to build explicit research and advisory relationships with government, and we map the growth in applied public policy research institutes, both inside and outside of universities. To better understand the growth in demand for, and supply of, knowledge brokering organisations we conducted interviews with a range of actors with subject matter expertise and influence in transferring knowledge across the boundaries of research and practice. Through the attitudes and experiences of knowledge brokering professionals we gain insight into the skills and strategies for effective knowledge brokering, as well as persistent cultural and institutional biases and challenges. This insight contributes to a global community of those working to operationalise evidence for good policymaking and governance.