This document discusses skills for knowledge brokerage related to complex phenomena. It notes that for complex problems, the answer is often unclear and there are diverging views. It presents a "complexity cube" that describes problems as tame, messy or wicked based on uncertainty, interdependencies and divergence. For wicked problems, the focus is on facilitating continuous joint sense-making of emergent issues. For messy problems, the focus is on bridging different evidence and users/producers. For tame problems, the focus is on supplying evidence. The document emphasizes understanding the nature of the problem and selecting the appropriate knowledge brokerage approach, as well as skills like managing diverse knowledge, dealing with uncertainty, and designing joint sense-making processes

1. Knowledge brokerage skills
for complex phenomena
Eeva Hellström, INGSA conference, Tokyo 7.11.2018

2. FOR EVERY COMPLEX PROBLEM
THERE IS AN ANSWER THAT IS
CLEAR, SIMPLE, AND WRONG
H.L. Mencken
How to create
societal impact
for science?
What kind of
knowledge use
does good policy-
making require?

3. Nature of the problem: Complexity cube
Complexity
of interdependencies
Uncertainty
of risks, consequences and
changing settings
Divergence
of views, values and strategic
intents
Tame
Messy
Wicked
Source: Raisio, Jalonen, Uusikylä 2018. Forthcoming Sitra report.

4. Perception of knowledge and expertise
Dialogue
Science
Deliberation
Co-
creation
Artificial
intelligence
Framing
Data-
analytics
Foresight
Tacit knowledge
Experimentation

5. When and where are decisions made?
Problem
definition
Agenda setting
Policy
development
Policy
implementation
Policy
evaluation
Evidence demand
Evidence supply
Continuous joint sense-
making of emergent
phenomena

8. WICKED: Facilitate continuous joint inter-
pretation and sense-making of divergent
evidences for emergent phenomena
MESSY: Bridge different evidences, and
producers and users of evidence
TAME: Supply evidence
Skills for knowledge brokerage in a complex world
Approaches to
knowledge brokerage
FACILITATE
BRIDGE
SUPPLY
1
Know what you are dealing with, and select the approach to
knowledge brokerage accordingly:
Model modified from: Turnhout, Stuiver, Klostermann, Harms and Leeuwis, 2013.
Approaches to knowledge brokerage

9. facilitating continuous joint interpretation and sense-
making of divergent evidences for emergent phenomena
Skills for knowledge brokerage in a complex world
Approaches to
knowledge brokerage
FACILITATE
(Wicked)
BRIDGE
(Messy)
SUPPLY
(Tame)
2
When dealing with complex (wicked) phenomana, build on
existing competencies, but focus particularly on skills for:
Model modified from: Turnhout, Stuiver, Klostermann, Harms and Leeuwis, 2013.
Approaches to knowledge brokerage
– understanding true complexity (vs. complicated)
– managing diversity of knowledge and expertise
– facing and dealing with the uncertainty related to
emergent phenomena
– designing and facilitating joint sense-making
and interpretation processes (e.g. dialogue)
– understanding and embracing the opportunities of
advanced data analytics and AI

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