Presentation at application info on communication and interaction.

1. Interaction plan – what’s the point
and how to do it
Maria Ruuska, Kaskas Media
Maj ja Tor Nesslingin säätiö, June 16th, 2017
@mariaruuska, @kaskasmedia

2. Knowledge is most valuable
when it’s shared.

3. IF NOT ME, WHO?
It is the researcher’s
responsibility to transfer new
knowledge into society.

4. Interaction plan
The researcher needs to define:
STAKEHOLDERS – who do we cooperate with in the project?
SCHEDULING – how do we cooperate at different phases of the project?
MEANS AND CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATION – how do we interact in practice?

5. There are as many
ways of interaction and
communication as there are
research topics.

6. When there’s an endless number of ways...
Kuva: Macloo /cc
… think carefully how you use your time.

7. When you start
planning an
application,
consider….
1.
What kind of change
is your research
after?

8. 2.
Whose help do you
need to make that
change happen?
3.
When and how are
you going to reach
your stakeholders?

9. 4.
What kind of
information is
useful to them?
What motivates
them to
cooperate?

10. 5.
What kind of
popular
information
products are you
going to produce?

11. 6.
How do you assess
the impact of your
work and change
course if
necessary?

13. Impact
Interest
Collaborate
Inform
Involve
Consult
COLLABORATING with
stakeholders is frequent and
continuous. Workshops, co-
writing, regular discussions.
INVOLVING is like collaborating,
but stakeholders have less time for
it, so involving is more sporadic.
CONSULTING means that
information and viewpoints are
exchanged for example in
occasional one-on-one meetings.
INFORMING refers to one-way
interaction, for example with a
newsletter or through traditional
media.

14. Aim to engage your stakeholders already in
the planning phase.

15. Discuss the framework of your research
with stakeholders. What kind of
information do they need?

16. When you’re planning cooperation with stakeholders:
● Remember that no one wants to work extra, so you need to consider
how the stakeholders’ own business will progress during cooperation
● Figure out a clear role, way to involve and time span for stakeholders
● Keep them up to speed on progress throughout the project
● Put aside a lot of time for motivating and keeping in touch

17. Informing Consulting Involving Collaborating
Karjalainen newspaper,
Karjalan Heili ja
Kotiseutu news
Ministry of the
Environment
North Karelia fishers’
society
Centre for Economic
Development,
Transport and the
Environment
(ELY-keskus)
Joensuu, Kontiolahti
and Liperi
residents
Local and Regional
Authorities’ environment
experts
Metsähallitus
(business/organization
that takes care of
Finland’s forests,
state-owned)
Joensuu, Liperi and
Kontiolahti city council
boards of environment
and construction
Cabin owners in North
Karelia
Researchers from the
same and neighboring
fields (e.g. from Syke and
Luke research institutions)
Example of collaborators in an imaginary beach conservation project in
Eastern Finland

19. Way/channel of
communication
Informing Consulting Involving Collaborating
Web page & newsletter
Blog post
Article in trade journal
Social media (e.g. Twitter
and Facebook)
Questionnaire
Seminar
School visit
Personal meeting
Workshop
Steering group

20. When interaction is planned well and
strategic, there’s more time for research.

21. Thank you!
Maria Ruuska
maria@kaskasmedia.fi
www.kaskasmedia.fi
Twitter: @mariaruuska &
@KaskasMedia
Facebook: Kaskas Media