Short answer
Shift from a 'data extraction' model to a 'knowledge co-creation' model when engaging with user communities.
- Field
- User-Centred Design
- Source
- Research Square (Research Square) (2020)
- Method
- Scoping Review
- Sample
- 42 documents
- Evidence
- Moderate effect
Organizations can significantly improve their learning processes by actively engaging with and valuing knowledge from the communities they serve, moving beyond a one-way transfer of information. This user-centred design research insight is drawn from a 2020 study published in Research Square (Research Square). Using Scoping review with 42 documents, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Shift from a 'data extraction' model to a 'knowledge co-creation' model when engaging with user communities.
Prioritize reciprocal knowledge exchange with communities for enhanced organizational learning.
Organizations can significantly improve their learning processes by actively engaging with and valuing knowledge from the communities they serve, moving beyond a one-way transfer of information.
Research Square (Research Square) · 2020
Key Findings
- 01There is an overemphasis on learning explicit knowledge from the community, rather than tacit knowledge.
- 02Learning often occurs in a hierarchical manner, not as an equal partnership.
- 03Concepts related to organization-community learning are inconsistently defined.
- 04Motives, power differentials, types of knowledge, and learning structures/processes influence the organization-community learning relationship.
Application
Design takeaway
Shift from a 'data extraction' model to a 'knowledge co-creation' model when engaging with user communities.
How to apply
When designing new services or products, actively involve community members in iterative design cycles, ensuring their perspectives and tacit knowledge are integrated into the development process.
Project actions
- 01When defining your target audience, consider them as collaborators, not just subjects.
- 02Plan for how you will capture and incorporate informal or 'unspoken' user knowledge.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Comprehensive scoping review methodology.
- +Draws from diverse research disciplines.
Limitations
It can be challenging to ensure true reciprocity and equal power dynamics in community engagement activities.
Reliability & validity
The reliability of the findings depends on the quality and consistency of the original studies reviewed. Validity is enhanced by the systematic review process and thematic analysis.
Think critically
How can design practitioners actively mitigate power imbalances when engaging with communities to ensure genuine co-creation?
Design Principles
"Embrace reciprocal knowledge exchange: Design processes that enable organizations and communities to learn from each other on equal footing."
This approach fosters a deeper understanding of user needs, contextual factors, and tacit knowledge that explicit data alone cannot capture. By establishing equitable partnerships, organizations can develop more relevant, effective, and user-centered solutions.
What This Means for Your Design
To make better designs, companies should talk *with* the people they serve, not just *at* them, and listen to all kinds of knowledge, not just facts.
How to use in your project
- 1.Use this research to justify the importance of community engagement and co-design in your design process, especially when discussing user research methods.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
This research highlights the critical need for organizations to move beyond a one-way extraction of explicit knowledge from communities towards a reciprocal exchange that values tacit knowledge and fosters equal partnership. This principle is fundamental to user-centered design, ensuring that design solutions are not only informed by user data but are co-created with the community, leading to greater relevance and impact.
Source
Research Square (Research Square)
Reimagining Community Relationships for Organizational Learning: a Scoping Review With Implications for a Learning Health System
journal · 2020
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about prioritize reciprocal knowledge exchange with communities for enhanced organizational learning?
- Shift from a 'data extraction' model to a 'knowledge co-creation' model when engaging with user communities. Evidence: Research Square (Research Square) (2020).
- Why does "Prioritize reciprocal knowledge exchange with communities for enhanced organizational learning." matter for design?
- This approach fosters a deeper understanding of user needs, contextual factors, and tacit knowledge that explicit data alone cannot capture. By establishing equitable partnerships, organizations can develop more relevant, effective, and user-centered solutions.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Shift from a 'data extraction' model to a 'knowledge co-creation' model when engaging with user communities.
- What were the main findings?
- There is an overemphasis on learning explicit knowledge from the community, rather than tacit knowledge.. Learning often occurs in a hierarchical manner, not as an equal partnership.. Concepts related to organization-community learning are inconsistently defined.. Motives, power differentials, types of knowledge, and learning structures/processes influence the organization-community learning relationship.
- What research method was used?
- Scoping Review with 42 documents.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2020 journal from Research Square (Research Square).
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When designing new services or products, actively involve community members in iterative design cycles, ensuring their perspectives and tacit knowledge are integrated into the development process.
- What are the limitations?
- The review identified inconsistently defined concepts and a potential lack of theoretical grounding in some of the included literature.