Structuring sustainable knowledge brokering in street-level organisations

The idea and need for knowledge mobilisation (KM) have gained traction in research and practice, but the long-term sustainability of KM practices remains challenging. Recent research suggests shifting from sustainability as an end-goal to 'sustaining' as actors' work to keep knowledge translation practices productive. However, little is known about sustaining work, especially in street-level public welfare organisations.

This article explores (a) how organisational systems for sustainable KM can be built in street-level organisations, and (b) how knowledge brokers in these organisations support the development of such structures.

We draw on ongoing research collaboration between researchers and five Danish municipal public employment services. Data includes extensive qualitative data from interviews, fieldwork and observations. Data are analysed using concepts of translating, contexting, and institutionalising KM.

We identify three axes of a sustaining KM infrastructure: a horizontal axis focused on mobilising knowledge at the professional level; a vertical axis focused on mobilising knowledge between organisational levels; and an extra-organisational axis focused on mobilising knowledge between the organisation and the outside world, specifically research.

This article highlights sustaining KM as ongoing and multifaceted work, emphasising the role of street-level organisation knowledge brokers. Their embeddedness in professional practice enables them to translate, context and institutionalise KM. By outlining three axes of sustaining infrastructure, we suggest a framework for further research on sustaining in organisational practices.