Comments on: More Integration / More Collaboration among ourselves

By: Ewen Le Borgne

Ewen Le Borgne — Fri, 15 May 2015 11:15:05 +0000

(Late comment from Addis team)
We need better mechanisms to work together across programs and projects. There is a lot in common across some of the programs and projects where if brought together can result in achieving the outcomes at scale.
The aim is to avoid duplication of efforts within the projects and programs, creating processes that links and helps to harmonize and organize research interventions, at the same time create linkages among research programs and projects that complement.
There is greater need to create more linkages between the integrated sciences & biosciences.
How does the 5 areas of the Science strategy (1) Animal Genetics & Breeding, 2) Feed resources, 3) Livestock & Human Health, 4) Policies, institutions & market, 5)Sustainable systems) fit into the existing organizational structure? Would it require re-organization?
The programs are there, which thematic area in the science strategy do they contribute to? Then create the linkages.
There is the need to harmonize and organize the research activities; we need to revisit the processes and the whole coordination of all the research activities.
From the program strategies identify how to fit in with the science strategy linking up to the ILRI strategy.
Also see the linkage with the CRPs.
Integration and collaboration starts from bottom up – identify common interest and common goals – and co-work. Finances is not an issue. This necessitates a change from us, a behavioral change and an attitudinal change. We need to have the willingness to change and to collaborate. Structure can facilitate collaboration. This might be a proper time to think about change in our structure that will bring down the silos.
Put some instruments to help foster change management.

By: Polly Ericksen

Polly Ericksen — Thu, 14 May 2015 16:01:15 +0000

HI all,
The several ideas on this are pointing towards a demand from ILRI for spaces and mechanisms that allow for integration and collaboration…. this is a strong message to take forward.

BUT this specific IDEA needs some details on the HOW!

By: Nadine Sanginga

Nadine Sanginga — Thu, 14 May 2015 11:44:36 +0000

Reposting: From the Nairobi Debate Room:

There are many overlapping components in the work that we do e.g. use of technology (e.g. mobile phones). Many scientists at ILRI have overlapping areas of interests – but they are not aware who else is interested in or working on what they are working on. How can we support this? Is it the creation of communities of practice? Nomination of a champion to bring about such a discussion? Including an element of cross-collaboration in our KRAs? A first step is to attempt to map out what each of us is working on. It shouldn’t be an additional burden and should be fully integrated into OCS.

By: Shirley Tarawali

Shirley Tarawali — Thu, 14 May 2015 09:50:26 +0000

We discussed this idea of communities of practise in our (very) small face to face discussion yesterday afternoon in Nairobi. I think Nadine has posted the comments on that somewhere – but I am not sure where to find them!!

By: Iain Wright

Iain Wright — Thu, 14 May 2015 09:18:44 +0000

We have in the past discussed creating ‘Communities of Practice’ that bring people with similar interests or working in similar areas together. We should think about this more.

By: Susan MacMillan

Susan MacMillan — Thu, 14 May 2015 07:27:40 +0000

The co-working space proposed by Ben and me certainly aims to help serve this great integration! Maybe we can combine ideas here!

By: haltshul

haltshul — Thu, 14 May 2015 07:17:43 +0000

It is unclear exactly what is being proposed here. Is it something like the co-working space idea put forward by Ben Hack and Susan MacMillan?