How can the transfer of good work-based learning practices into your own organization be planned?
The transfer of innovation means implementing and applying an innovation in other organizations where it is developed. Transfer of innovation is always a learning process. The transfer will be more successful if it is done systematically.
In terms of the needs for change previously analyzed within the organization, it is necessary to define the aims of the innovation and to make practical plans. There are several milestones and questions to be discussed and resolved when making plans for the transfer of good WBL practices, among others:
- Who is leading the transfer process?
- How is involvement/thinking in the organization changed?
- How are change agents identified?
- How is change opposition used?
- How is it possible to withdraw from the organization structure?
- If necessary, how can barriers from the previous culture be broken down?
- What resources are needed for the transfer?
- How much time is needed for the transfer?
- What are the critical points of the transfer? It is important to identify critical points of the transfer and to find follow-up tools.
- How can the planning process be assured?
Figure 3 has a description of the processes of the transfer of good WBL planning practices. The transfer of WBL includes several plans, they are not separate plans and are part of the same plan to transfer WBL practices (Figure 3).
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Figure 3. Plan for transferring a good WBL planning practice. |
Greenhalgh et al. (2004) have classified the key elements in implementing and creating a routine for an innovation. Table 2 shows the key elements modified.
Table 2. The key elements in implementing and creating a routine for an innovation.
| Organizational structure | An adaptive and flexible organizational structure and processes that support devolved decision-making within the organization to departments, operational decision-making devolved to teams to ensure successful implementation. |
| Leadership and management | Senior management support, advocacy of the implementation process and continued commitment to it. |
Human resources issues
and timing
| Successful creation of a routine depends on the motivation, capacity and competence of individuals and on the right timing for the TOI. |
| Funding | If there is dedicated and ongoing funding for implementation, the innovation is more likely to be implemented. |
| Open communication within the organization | Effective communication across structural boundaries within the organization enhances successful implementation. |
Socially disseminated cognition
(Intra-organizational networks) | The goal and open questions will be divided between groups and every group will familiarize themselves more thoroughly with the specific content. Different knowledge will then be disseminated and shared.
The more complex the implementation needed for a particular innovation, the greater the significance of the inter-organizational network. |
| Feedback | Accurate and timely information about the impact of the implementation process increases the chances of successful creation of a routine. |
| Adaptation/reinvention | If an innovation is adapted to the local context, it is more likely to be implemented successfully. |
After taking the decision to transfer the new good practice for WBL students’ tutoring model, the development team at school S starts to make plans: - Who will apply new students´ tutoring methods based on the new good practice?
- What is time schedule?
- What financial and other resources are needed for starting to use new tutoring model?
- How can the new model start to be used at the school?
- Who is involved in the transfer process and in what role?
- What kind of tools and methods will be used by transferring the new tutoring model?
- How will the results of the transfer be analyzed and then, based on the results, how will the plan for transfer be modified?
Finally the development team will document an action plan for the transfer of the new students’ tutoring model. |
See also Critical points in the transfer process of good WBL practice