Public lectures 2012/2013

The following lectures are open to all and we warmly welcome members of the public to attend. 

Anyone wishing to attend a lecture in the Inaugural Lecture Series, please confirm your attendance by emailing events@keele.ac.uk. 

2013

April

16th April -Inaugural lecture: Professor Harry Scarbrough, "Transfer or Translation?"

Professor Harry Scarbrough Inaugural lecture, "Transfer or Translation? How Knowledge Is Shared Through Social Networks"

Tuesday 16th April, 18.00pm Westminster Theatre, Chancellor's Building

"A common assumption amongst senior executives and policy-makers is the idea that knowledge can be readily ‘transferred’ from one setting to another.  This assumption underpins many current policies in both government and industry,  including the pursuit of ‘impact’ from research, and attempts to transfer ‘best practice’ in manufacturing and service organizations. 

In this lecture, I question this linear model of knowledge transfer, and outline an alternative view of  the way in which knowledge and ideas flow between different settings. Through examples drawn from my own research in the health sector, I will argue that knowledge is actually ‘translated’ through social networks, with different  groups adapting and tailoring such knowledge to their own circumstances. The critical role played by such networks, ranging from professional groups to the ‘old school tie’ network,  has important implications for our ability to make the best use of the knowledge that we produce."

Harry Scarbrough is the newly appointed (since Oct 2012) Director of Keele Management School. Previously, Harry was a Professor at Warwick Business School, and Director of a major ESRC research programme on ‘The evolution of business knowledge’. His research interests focus on the role played by social networks in the way knowledge is spread, shared and transformed in processes of innovation and change. This includes two recent funded research projects; an ESRC study of the impact of ‘communities of practice’ on organizational performance, and, more recently a National Institute of Health Research study of NHS and international initiatives aimed at improving the translation of knowledge and research into practice.

This lecture is an open event and free to attend. Please confirm your attendance to: events@keele.ac.uk

May