Strengthening collaboration for co-operative research: A synthesis report June 2012

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Table of contents

Executive summary…………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 3

Context……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4

Methodology and analysis………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4

Research findings……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 5

Creating an online network…….……………………………………………………………………………..….. 7

Overview of network governance…………………………………………………………………. 9

Key lessons………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 11

Next steps…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 12

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Executive Summary

From 2010-2012, the Rural and Co-operatives Secretariat in partnership with the Canadian Co-operative Association (CCA) and the Conseil canadien de la coopération et de la mutualité (CCCM) engaged the Canadian co-operative research community in a consultative process to shape the agenda for co-operative research in the coming years. The project builds on the 2009 report Building a Co-operative Research Agenda: Research, Strategy & Action which was prepared by the same partners. A Steering Committee comprised of practitioners and academic researchers built on the findings of the 2009 report to engage over 100 members of the co-operative research community in the 2010-2012 project. This project resulted in the formation of the Canadian Co-operative Research Network an online portal that hosts an extensive co-operative research library, researcher profiles, news and events, research ideas and several adjoining social media spaces to encourage collaboration.

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Context

This report is written as part of the second stage of a Canada-wide survey and consultation process exploring 1) priorities for co-operative research as well as 2) methods for better connecting the co-operative research community. The project was funded by the Rural and Co-operatives Secretariat and undertaken in partnership with the Canadian Co-operative Association (CCA) and the Conseil canadien de la coopération et de la mutualité (CCCM). It was pursued as a follow-up to the Co-operative Research Agenda Project which resulted in the Building a Co-operative Research Agenda: Research, Strategy & Action (May 2009) report published by the three partners listed above (available at www.coopscanada.coop/public_html/assets/firefly/files/files/pdfs/Research/Research_agenda.pdf).

The Steering Committee who directed this phase (2010-2012) was comprised of John Anderson (Canadian Co-operative Association), Marie-Joëlle Brassard (Conseil québécois de la coopération et de la mutualité), Denyse Guy (Ontario Co-operative Association), Lou Hammond Ketilson (University of Saskatchewan), André Leclerc (Université de Moncton) along with Fiona Duguid and Anne-Marie McInnis (Rural and Co-operatives Secretariat). This report pertains solely to the findings on collaboration within the co-op research community. To learn more about the findings that pertain to co-operative research priorities, see the report entitled Synthesis report on co-operative research priorities found at s.coop/research.

One of the key findings which emerged from the May 2009 report was the need to create an online co-operative research network that would serve to enhance a common research agenda. To determine the level of interest, survey research, meetings and webinars were conducted over 2010-2011 to gather academics’ and practitioners’ feedback on the creation of an online network. This component of the project led to the establishment of the Canadian Co-operative Research Network (CCRN)/ Réseau canadien de recherche sur les cooperatives (RCRC) (s.coop/research), or sometimes informally referred to as the online co-operative research portal.

These activities lay the foundation for further input from the sector and the research community about current and future directions for co-operative research. Interested individuals and organizations across Canada are invited to participate in this ongoing dialogue and become partners in the network.

Methodology and analysis

The results presented below are based on findings from a survey conducted by CCA, CCCM and consultants under the direction of the Steering Committee as well as discussions which took place at a panel hosted by CCA and CCCM on June 1, 2011; Building a Co-operative Research Agenda in Fredericton, New Brunswick (at the joint session of the Canadian Association for Studies in Co-operation and the Association for NonProfit and Social Economy Research). The results presented within this report were also informed by one-on-one consultations with research centres and groups, as well as through public webinars. The updated survey was first distributed in mid-November of 2010 and surveys were collected until August of 2011.

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The survey was promoted widely through practitioner and researcher networks:

• CCA’s Co-operative News Briefs

• CCCM’s electronic Bulletin

• the Measuring the Co-operative Difference Research Network website

• through the Canadian Association of Studies in Co-operation (CASC) network

A total of 49 surveys were completed, broken down as follows:

• 19 francophone

• 30 anglophone respondents

• 28 academics/professors

• 19 sector representatives

• 2 government representations

It is important to note that some academic respondents answered on behalf of their research centre, which means this report encompasses the work and vision of several other people. For example in the case of the University of Saskatchewan’s Centre for the Study of Co-operatives, 10 researchers worked collaboratively to respond to the survey.

Two webinars (in French and English respectively) were organized in the fall of 2011 to gather feedback from the co-operative research community about developing a collaborative online research network, with a combined total of 50 participants. Textual analysis approaches were used to group the feedback and qualitative responses into common themes.

Research findings

This section provides an overview of the qualitative feedback provided by respondents through the surveys and consultations undertaken by the project partners in relation to the need for effective communication and networking within the co-operative research community.

General appreciation

A minority of respondents were satisfied with the current level of communication within the co-operative research community, citing the following as helpful resources: the annual conference hosted by the Canadian Association for Studies in Co-operation (CASC) and co-operative newsletters from several different associations. They also found that availability of research resources was adequate for

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published peer-reviewed articles. However it was made clear that although the majority of respondents appreciated existing communication resources and networks, they also saw a need for improvement. Suggestions included the development of a central research inventory where information can be shared more easily. Respondents also recognized the need to leverage technological advances in sharing information. Overall, respondents indicate positive support for the online network initiative, with many benefits being cited including improved networking and the ease of access to materials and resources and materials.

Feedback also highlighted the potential of electronic tools to engage people in a dialogue about a strategic co-operative research agenda. Based on the responses, key strategies to improve communication included the development of a centralized space where research is stored and can be regularly updated; where academia and the co-operative sector can better collaborate on a regional level; and where researchers can post research ideas.

Means of communication

Responses varied on the range of options to effectively develop a new strategy to better connect the co-operative research community including:

• e-newsletters/email – the newsletters would link to a central website where current and past research could be highlighted, and links would be provided. The e-newsletters could also allow an electronic form of Q&A so that readers could engage directly with the person whose research was being featured. One person thought a quarterly distribution schedule would be appropriate

• in-person events – suggestions included: occasional meetings, workshops, conferences, annual seminars, roundtable discussions, etc. It is important to recognize the need to create connections through existing networks with academics and practitioners, as they can exist in isolation to each other.

• website – web-based platforms provide opportunities to share completed studies; diffuse knowledge and stimulate exchanges on in-progress research that is being undertaken. A website can facilitate greater accessibility to documents. Mount Saint-Vincent University‘s bilingual online research portal for its Social Economy and Sustainability Research Network project is an example of this (Social Economy Space http://dc.msvu.ca:8080/xmlui/handle/10587/9). The online research portal has enabled the research to continue to be available for other researchers after the research project MSVU ceased when the funding ended. It is important to note that the website can be complementary to other means of communication.

• Other suggestions included the use of teleconferencing and social networking sites.

Overall, respondents favoured a combination of in-person meetings and the use of electronic communications/web-based platforms to share knowledge, build common co-op research interests and stimulate action. The value of regular web-based communication needs to be balanced with the importance of in-person meetings and conferences.

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Considerations for success

A number of points were raised during the consultation processes, which were considered by the Steering Committee during the design phase of the online research portal. These included:

• accessibility – to ensure greater accessibility, the network needs to be available in both official languages. It is important as a guiding principle to build a sustainable bilingual network in order for researchers from across the country to work together on coordinating and disseminating research and knowledge on co-operatives. In order to facilitate better communication between French- and English-speaking researchers, it was suggested that article abstracts be translated, (resources permitting) or to use web-based translators such as Google Translate, which are deemed to be imperfect but affordable, and could support people with a working knowledge of both languages to navigate articles. This linked to a general comment that while resources (people, time and money) will be necessary to maintain the portal, recruiting good volunteers could take it far.

• timeliness of data availability -it was mentioned that an auto-feed system could be created from the most relevant existing websites so that the network could be auto-populated with important information. This also relates to the challenge of keeping the site current with fresh and topical information.

It is clear that there is a need for the online network; however the nature of an online community means that real efforts will need to be made by network hosts to encourage meaningful dialogue rather than simply one-sided postings.

Creating an online network

The Steering Committee reviewed the comments received through the surveys and feedback from the consultations. Research was also undertaken to evaluate the existing structures for co-operative research and the Steering Committee determined that the top two choices for connecting the research community -- newsletters and in-person events -- are being addressed in many different ways including:

• university-based research centres

• Community-University Research Alliances

• research partnerships

• co-operative associations

• the Canadian Association for Studies in Co-operation

However, the research and feedback indicated that there was a lack of centralized information that would give people access to these newsletters or events. The proposal to develop an online research

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portal was selected in order to serve as a means to promote existing initiatives, newsletters and events as well as to serve as a central resource for all things related to co-operative research (an inventory of publications, news, opportunities for funding and so on). It was also felt to be the most cost-effective approach to developing a long term option for sharing and collecting co-operative research and engaging with the research community. In addition, the Committee agreed that an online network would provide a space that would enable researchers and practitioners to be connected and could develop collaborative projects from this space.

The Steering Committee agreed that a bilingual, online portal would serve as a central hub for:

• co-operative research news, opportunities and events

• an inventory of co-op research that can be easily navigated and searched

• a portal for recent conference materials and outputs

• a meeting place for researchers to collaborate and determine research priorities

• an interactive space where researchers can comment on posts and contribute to discussions

• a free, open information source for co-op practitioners and the public

• a central site that directs people to other co-op sites, centres, resources and research activities

The Steering Committee and coordinators reviewed other online network models and found the Canadian Rural Research Network (CRRN) shared similar goals to what was envisioned for this network, including:

• connecting practitioners and academic researchers

• sharing events and current research

• running a volunteer based open site

• having a governance structure that was comprised of a consortium of interested partners

The CRRN shared their online template as well as lessons and best practices with the coordinators. These two research networks now have a relationship where they share any new technologies created on their website for free with the other partner and cross refer members where applicable.

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The intentions for the network were addressed through using a combination of online tools, including:

• a Wordpress free online website platform

• using Google Translate so all material is available in English/French/Spanish at the click of a button

• creating the research citation library on the Zotero reference/library platform online

• creating online forms for submitting comments/events/bibliographic information

• adding pages for researcher profiles

• having a Google events calendar

• offering RSS feeds and an email registration for people to receive notices when new material is added to the website

Facebook and Twitter accounts have also been registered to share news. Other social media may be added over time. As the site develops, there may be a need to add new tools, but the Wordpress platform will easily allow for add-ons. As more users access the website, it will become evident what is needed and the site will continue to evolve over time.

The Canadian Co-operative Research Network/ Réseau canadien de recherche sur les cooperatives (RCRC) (s.coop/research) was officially launched in May of 2012. At the time of the launch, the network already featured a library of 1300 publications, researcher profiles, news items and it continues to grow. The network is co-owned by several groups including university centres, academic associations and co-operatives/co-operative associations.

Overview of network governance This network is not formally incorporated, but is an informal association of interested parties that are self-governed. The network consists of users, partners, a Management Committee and volunteers.

Users Users are individuals who visit the site, review the research bibliography, receive a newsfeed or provide content for the site where appropriate. The site is open and does not require a log in to access the calendar of events, the bibliography, news, researcher profiles and so forth. However, some users may be granted permission to post content directly to the site if they are a trusted source with co-op research news to share or contributions to provide in terms of comments or discussion points. Partners Any group or individual is invited to become a partner in the network. All member organizations are invited to provide their logo to be displayed on the site. The network has been designed using open source platforms so the partnership in this network will not warrant a membership cost for the first year. The Management Committee will be tasked with deciding on a future dues structure, should it be

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warranted, but it is not anticipated. Partners will be invited to submit research, research news, researcher profiles and contribute to discussions on the site. Partners will direct people to the site via their websites, social media, events and so forth. Partners may also consider contributing by providing in kind support to the network via staff time for support with the website, providing a conference call line for meetings and other such contributions. Partners will be invited to an annual meeting (likely held by phone) in order to participate in the evaluation and planning for the network. Management Committee The initial Management Committee are a group of 5-10 representatives from organizations with an interest in co-operative research and also members of the research community at large who may want to contribute but do not hold a position in association with existing research or practitioner groups. This committee will be champions for the network and actively promote the network through various means including other websites and events. The committee will meet quarterly or more frequently if desired. Terms will be staggered two- year terms to ensure institutional memory be reserved within the leadership. The committee will identify the following executive roles:

• Chairperson who will convene and chair Management Committee and annual meetings

• Vice-Chairperson who will support the Chairperson in coordinating meetings and who will chair meetings when the Chairperson is absent

• Secretary who will keep minutes of the meetings and any other roles identified as necessary

The committee might also consider establishing a Working Group and designating certain members to be accountable for a specific task related to the website, including contributing to the discussion, approving comments on articles by online contributors, posting events, posting new research articles, etc. Overview of key responsibilities of the Management Committee:

• Ensure the maintenance of the website

• Ensure a process to continually gather co-operative research and have it added to the network library (hosted in Zotero)

• Engage the research community in processes to determine research priorities and to promote partnerships where possible

• Ensure the latest co-operative news, events, calls for papers, opportunities and other relevant information is added to the site in a timely manner

• Ensure a system to engage members of the community in the site, its discussion and the AGM

• Ensure a system to coordinate contributors to the site including students and volunteers

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Note: At this time, the Management Committee will not be required to provide financial oversight for the network given the network will not be collecting dues or processing funds, but should this structure change in the future, the Management Committee will be tasked with financial oversight as well.

Volunteers Volunteers may be recruited from time to time by the Management Committee for such tasks as adding content to the website, contributing to discussions, promoting the network, translating text and so forth. Resourcing Required The network is designed to be user-friendly and easy to update. Again, it is based on the Canadian Rural Research Network format which is entirely cost-free and volunteer run. The network will require between five and ten hours per month on average to keep the site fresh, with an understanding that for the first few months of populating the site as well as leading up to peak times (surrounding conferences and events) may require more maintenance. These hours can be covered directly by the Management Committee members, in-kind staff time provided by partners, through volunteers or by a jointly funded staff or contract position (where partner funding and/or grant money is available). Current partners CCA, CCCM, Canadian Association for Studies in Co-operation, Conseil québécois coopération et mutualité, Measuring the Co-operative Difference Research Network (Community-University Research Alliance), Association for Co-operative Educators, University of Saskatchewan, Saint Mary’s University, British Columbia Co-operative Association, Rural and Co-operatives Secretariat (Government of Canada), the Centre of Excellence in Accounting and Reporting for Co-operatives, the Shannon School of Business (Cape Breton University), Canadian Worker Co-operative Federation, Alberta Rural Development Network and Orion worker co-operative.

Key lessons

There is a high level of support and enthusiasm for the online network project, coming from all directions (academic researchers, students and co-operative practitioners). Participants salute the initiative, which they think will enable greater information sharing and diffusion; its contribution to building a common research agenda is obvious to participants, who express a clear need for it. It also appears from the consultations with stakeholders that they are in favour of a diversity of approaches to designing the online network. Finally, success factors mentioned can be boiled down to the importance of ensuring the network is bilingual, used frequently by a diversity of stakeholders and features up-to-date information. The network will require a number of engaged partners moving forward in order to ensure its success.

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Next steps

Through the growth of the new online co-operative research hub that was developed through the process of these consultations, the Canadian Co-operative Research Network/ Réseau canadien de recherche sur les cooperatives (RCRC), there will be a designated space to continue the dialogue of a strategic research agenda that serves all stakeholders.

This network currently makes available over 1300 citations of co-operative research, serving as a starting point for understanding where we are in co-operative research and thus allowing for strategic planning for what should come next. In order to maintain this extensive research library, partners will need to submit their new publications to be added. As members of the research community publish research or plan for events, they should consider the network as a first stop to promote their activities.

There is interest from the current partners to expand the network to increase international participation over time. The Management Committee and all partners will influence the development and expansion of the network moving forward, throughout 2012 and beyond. In May of 2012, the Management Committee established a Working Group of volunteers from the partner organizations who are on a weekly schedule to add new content to the site. The Management Committee in collaboration with all partners will need to be active in 1) ensuring the website content is current and 2) to continually invite new members to participate in the various aspects of the site.