Knowledge-based partnerships between and within Lithuanian health and science policy stakeholders’ organisations

Abstract

The present paper introduces a theoretical framework of key capacities of interest group organizations within the knowledge management cycle, and surveys the level of these capacities within Lithuanian associations operating in healthcare and education & science policy arenas. The theoretical framework combines four types of capacities (internal capacity building, internal management, representation, and partnership capacity), which determine knowledge sharing and transfer within SOs and between SOs and external policy actors. To test the theoretical framework, we applied a quantitative survey method. We conducted a survey of SOs having legal status of association (incorporating individuals and/or organizations) that act in Lithuanian healthcare (HC) and education and science (E&S) policy sectors. We got responses from 39 associations (68 individual responses) operating in HC sector and 31 associations (161 individual responses) acting in E&S policy arena in Lithuania. The research results show that Lithuanian HC and E&S policy stakeholders’ organizations need to enhance internal and external capacities to participate in policymaking, because currently overall participation results are not satisfactory regardless of the variety and extension of the executed activities.