CEBRA research: harnessing past and new work to improve uptake and impact of best practice risk analysis approaches in MPI analysis

Abstract

<p>CEBRA has collaborated extensively with end users in both the Australian Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (the department) and the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries (the ministry) to improve adoption of methods and to increase the impact of recent research outputs. Most CEBRA projects include scientists from the department or the ministry in project development and execution. This enhances research outcomes and is thought to improve the likelihood that research findings will be adopted and implemented by those who commissioned the research. The ministry has not yet fully capitalised on existing research outputs from CEBRA and its predecessor ACERA. There remains significant scope to use methodologies and outputs from earlier projects to solve additional biosecurity problems and thus to benefit from investment in CEBRA.</p> <p>Based on a perception that CEBRA outputs could be made more easily accessible, the objective of this project was to develop a ‘mechanism’ that would result in access for ministry staff to a tangible repository of CEBRA research projects, their outcomes and impacts — a CEBRA ‘knowledge base’. Issues around the need for such a database, its development and future use were framed in a knowledge management context. Knowledge management refers to the set of processes an organisation uses to create, store, transfer and apply its information assets (knowledge) and is an important part of an organisation’s ‘knowledge culture’. </p> <p>Qualitative analysis of interviews with ministry staff was the main approach used to understand contemporary knowledge management practices in the ministry. Interviews were undertaken during mid-2019 and were designed to elicit a broad understanding of awareness about CEBRA outputs. The analysis also revealed useful insights into the knowledge culture within the ministry and how this might be improved. </p> <p>Development of the searchable repository was completed in 2020 and now allows:</p> <ul><li>The efficient capture and dissemination of existing CEBRA research outputs. </li> <li>The efficient development of new projects.</li> <li>For an improved understanding of ‘return on investment’ in CEBRA projects.</li></ul>