1) Write a note to inform the funding body of audits taking place, describing the purpose, scope and process
Our documents here
Dear *person at funding body
I am carrying out a study that involves performing knowledge audits of publicly funded research projects.
An outline of the rationale and motivation and methodology are listed on this publicly accessible website:
https://sites.google.com/site/kaframework/
The projects funded by your funding body (insert name) which we intend to audit are detailed below (indicate the projects to be audited, if known)
One of the goals of the study is to understand how public research bodies regulate and monitor the dissemination of knowledge
I would be grateful if you could provide the following information about the knowledge sharing behaviour of your funding body:
FUNDING BODY POLICY SURVEY FORM
Each project leader will be contacted in the next few days to be informed of the audit procedure, which takes place remotely and unobtrusively via
searches and via the respective project websites, so that they can point us to relevant repositories and sources of knowledge that can be publicly
evaluated.
A copy of the summary findings and recommendations will be emailed to you as soon as available.
Please do let me have any questions you may have at this stage
Best Regards
Your Signature
b) Example letter project leader
Dear *project team leader
I am carrying out a study that involves performing knowledg audits of publicly funded research.
Your project xyz fits the selection criteria of our current research focus, and we are including it in our portfolio of current audits
An outline of the rationale, motivation and methodology are listed on this publicly accessible website:
//sites.google.com/site/kaframework/
The audit aims to identify information such as:
- what knowledge resources are publicly shared (glossary, diagram, schemas etc)
- who is in charge of KM within your project
- is there a knowledge sharing policy, and if so, what does it look like
- is your project in line with the culture of knowledge sharing that is shaping many efforts iin this direction
Audits are initially carried out remotely by an independent auditor (in this case the undersigned researcher) and unobtrusively via searches and through the project website, with ample opportunities for project team members to interact with the audit process, (email exchanges, an interview and a feedback form)
Preliminary information gathered about your project is enclosed. we would be grateful if you could check the information is recorded correctly,
and fill any blanks
Please do feel free to point me to any online repository or website where I should be looking for shared knowledge regarding your project, and that shall be the starting point for this audit, if different from what indicated in the enclosed form
A copy of the summary findings will be emailed to you as soon as available, so that you can approve them or correct them during an optional telephone interview, then a final version of the inventory will be included in a public audit report.
Do not hesitate to ask questions you may have at this stage
Best Regards
Your Signature
Encl 1. Preliminary Project information obtained from searches or funding body