BAR TODAY || Official Quarterly Publication of the Bureau of Agricultural Research

KPSD readied for program implementation for CY2000
Thea Krisitina M. Pabuayon

December 1999

The Knowledge Products and Services Division (KPSD) Staff attended a seminar-workshop entitled "Strengthening the Knowledge Products and Services Division through Team Building and Participatory Approach to Program Implementation" at SEARCA, UPLB last November 25-26, 1999. The workshop was conducted to assess the division's capability and to identify strategies on how to operationalize and implement its plans and programs on information communication. Ms. Nancy Eduenga and Dr. Madeline Suva of SEARCA facilitated the activity while Mr. Joseph Ongkiko served as the resource speaker.

The workshop focused on the improvement and finalization of KPSD Workplan based on BAR's goals, vision, and mandate and the concerns of AFMA. A detailed review and discussion of the division's service program both at the national and regional level was conducted particularly on how KPSD manages and develops the communication and research-extension mechanism for the National Extension Research and Development System in Agriculture and Fisheries. KPSD aims to address the need for immediate information dissemination and full utilization of relevant information and appropriate technologies to the different clientele of BAR. Specifically, this involves conceptualizing, designing, developing, and packaging knowledge products into simple, understandable, and usable multi-media materials.

The seminar-workshop involved three parts. The first is the lecture and discussion of the basic principles of program implementation strategies such as team building and participatory approach to program planning and implementation. The strategies were evaluated and their applications were further explored through group dynamics. The lecturers presented ideas, updates and trends on information and communication, and innovative changes on knowledge management and information sharing and dissemination.

The second part of the activity involved group dynamics. This was focused on strengthening the division in terms of cohesiveness, cooperation, communication, working towards a common goal, and proper decision making. Inhibitors, strengths and weaknesses, gaps, and other informal factors that affect the performance of the division as a whole were identified.

The third activity involved the review and fine-tuning of the KPSD workplan. The team (KPSD) members were able to identify, clarify, and delineate specific/individual roles and responsibilities. Finalization of the BAR KPSD Program and Regional KPS Program operational plan was also done.

As a result of the seminar-workshop, the KPSD Staff was able to formulate and draft individual workplans, the general KPSD workplan, and the information communication component workplan of the project entitled "Strengthening the Knowledge Management Capability" for two years. A list of human resource development plan and programs for the division was identified. This includes training in advanced journalism/newswriting, desktop publishing, advanced photography, media resources management, video scriptwriting and production, publications design and media layout, and indexing. Resource requirement and other needs were identified for action. The participants were able to generate the following recommendations : follow-up activity for the preparation of a detailed monthly workplan, equal training opportunity for staff, and additional KPSD staff.

The activity was concluded with visits to PCARRD and IRRI where the staff was given pointers and lectures by their information and communication counterparts.