Sharpening the knowledge domain transfer in practice research design: The BPM assessment

• Published in: Systems, signs & actions signs & actions, 2012, Vol.6 (1), p.22
• Main Authors: Christiansson, Marie-Therese, Granström, Klas
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: BPM maturity assessment; Informatik; Information Systems; knowledge domain transfer; Practice research design; snapshot
• ISSN: 1652-8719; 1652-8719

The practice research design described in this paper is based on the common interest of Telge AB and Karlstad University to explore knowledge transfer from research results to their use in practice when applying a Business Process Management (BPM) maturity assessment model. In our case study, we explore how knowledge transfer can become explicit, based on components in the foundation of practice research and a mapping of the practice research process. The main idea is to contribute to the articulation of sharpening the knowledge transfer in practice research design. Our findings show e.g. the importance of enabling practitioners in finding the research results, using an explicit model package to gain understanding and guidance towards the intended way in which the practitioners are supposed to use the knowledge, as well as prerequisites in the knowledge domain. Additionally, the complexity in the BPM maturity concept and challenges in the knowledge domain transfer are findings that can lead to bridging the gap between a BPM maturity assessment model in theory and lessons learned from using the model in practice. Finally, the paper contributes with a knowledge domain transfer loop model to be used in planning and evaluating practice research between practitioners and research stakeholders as well as a snapshot of practice research design to be used to communicate key elements as pre-conditions for the knowledge domain transfer.