ABSTRACT

Knowledge is defined as “the partially unconscious capacity that is represented by the function of Information, Experience, Ability and Attitude of someone” (Weggeman 20014, 28-41). Since the subject of the cultural landscape covers many different disciplines and research, practice and policy, the need for specific management of knowledge is evident. The contributions to this section are analyzed from this perspective. They represent a balanced mixture of types of research programmes, national ones, transnational Interreg programmes, a European COST A27 programme and one on information systems for cultural-historical landscapes.

For successful integrative research five aspects should be given attention: project design, integration, communication (leadership, clear role of participants and personal chemistry), output/results and SWOT analysis. Some specific recommendations are made to support management of knowledge of integrative research programmes:

• - timely attention for theory, conceptualization and methodology supporting integrative research practice;

• - specific funding of leadership and co-ordination focused on the creation of integrative knowledge;

• - specific funding for external communication to avoid a one-sided focus on the own group;

• - adequate training for acting as a researcher in integrative programmes.

KEY WORDS

Management of knowledge; (trans)national research programmes; leadership, communication, training

WHY A SECTION ON THE MANAGEMENT OF KNOWLEDGE FOR INTEGRATIVE LANDSCAPE RESEARCH?

It is useful to explain why a special section of this book on integrative landscape research and heritage practice is devoted to the theme of knowledge management and what is understood by this term. Knowledge management as it is used in the context of this section is not only the usual development of research themes within a particular research policy and the organization of the appropriate assessment of research proposals, the allocation and control of the money flow and of reporting about progress and output. This is of course a basic condition for implementing research focused on specific new themes or lines and selected in a competitive environment, a task generally fulfilled by the funding research authority.

Knowledge management must also take into account the other basic research aim, creating new knowledge and insights within the proposed topic and its ambitions. In this context knowledge is defined as “the partially unconscious capacity that is represented by the function of Information, Experience, Ability and Attitude of someone” (Weggeman 20014, 28-41).