PRESENTATION OF THE YEAR

Paul Red Smith

USER-Feedback in Large-scale AR4D: The GRisP example in Ghana &

AfricaRice

Wilson Dogbe

CSIR-SARI, Ghana

PRESENTATION OF THE YEAR

Paul Red Smith

Background to the study

Rational and objectives of study

Methodology

Key Findings

Conclusion

Outline

PRESENTATION OF THE YEAR

Paul Red Smith

Agricultural Research

Programmes

Potential User• Farmers• Extension• NGOs• Processors• Etc.

Client• Donors organization• Governments

Technology or Knowledge

Feedback challenges in agric. research & development

PRESENTATION OF THE YEAR

Paul Red Smith

1. Reframing agricultural research as AR4D

2. Use of the extensive literature & experience around new product development (NPD) in industry

3. Users and user feedback must be centre stage

AR4D, GRiSP and user feedback

PRESENTATION OF THE YEAR

Paul Red Smith

Pilot study commissioned by the Global Forum on AgriculturalResearch (GFAR).

Implemented by Agricultural Learning and Impact Network(ALINe) and the Institute of Development Studies (IDS), Brighton,UK.

Financial support from the European Initiative for AgriculturalResearch for Development’s (EIARD) Food Security ThematicProgramme (FSTP).

Collaboration: AfricaRice and CSIR-Ghana.

The study…..

PRESENTATION OF THE YEAR

Paul Red Smith

Use the case of GRiSP and rice research and development in

Ghana to:

Develop a framework for conceptualising and analysing user feedback

loops.

Demonstrate how existing user feedback loops can be identified and

analysed

Identify opportunities for enhancing user feedback

Develop a plan to test the value of alternative mechanisms for enhanced

user feedback

Objectives……

PRESENTATION OF THE YEAR

Paul Red Smith

That the framing of GRiSP in terms of products and product lines

is a radical (but welcome) move.

Renewed focus on user feedback and feedback loops

New light on the notion of AR4D

AR4 [‘agricultural’, ‘rural’, social’, ‘economic’, ‘human’,

sustainable’?]D?

The basic argument…….

PRESENTATION OF THE YEAR

Paul Red Smith

Feedback loopUse of a structured, systematic mechanism that allows users

(potential or actual) to provide data about one or more aspects of a

proposed, emergent or existing product (or service), with that data

being transformed into feedback through analysis, and used to

inform a product development process.

Feedback and Feedback loops

PRESENTATION OF THE YEAR

Paul Red Smith

Purpose of feedback

7 element model of a complete feedback loop

Info about what?

Info from whom?

Analysis used how?

Analyse to whom?

Info analyse how?

Info in what form?

PRESENTATION OF THE YEAR

Paul Red Smith

Rice researchers in Ghana identified 24 examples of feedback, using 18

mechanisms:

1. Mother & Baby Trial 2. Participatory Learning Action

Research (PLAR) 3. Participatory M&E 4. Participatory Varietal Selection

(PVS) 5. Farmer Visits to Test-Field /

Farmer Test-Field Visits 6. Value Chain Survey 7. Field Visits / Farm Survey /

Farmer Field Observations

8. Test Marketing 9. Sensory Test 10. Project Advisory Committee 11. On-Farm Experiment 12. Training 13. Review Process 14. Farmer Interviews 15. On-farm Demonstration 16. Farmer Field Days 17. Workshop / Planning session 18. Famer Field School

User feedback loops in Ghana’s rice AR4D

PRESENTATION OF THE YEAR

Paul Red Smith

Five key points emerged

For a number of the examples a case can be made that all seven elements are in place -- these examples appear to meet the criteria set out for a functional feedback loop.

It appears that the two elements – “From Whom?” and “To Whom?” –are strong in almost all examples.

In the majority of the examples the “For what purpose?” element seemed to be weak

In the majority of the examples the “How analysed?” element seemed to be weak

Initial analysis of examples

PRESENTATION OF THE YEAR

Paul Red Smith

By using the language of product lines and products, GRiSP cracked open a door

that has the potential to radically change publicly-funded AR4D.

However, to date this door has not been fully opened because

1. GRiSP is still a relatively new initiative and is not well known among rice

sector actors in Ghana

2. The potential implications of the GRiSP approach are not yet fully

appreciated

3. The products and product lines have been specified at too high a level

(and the clarity achieved by re-specifying these would go a long way to

making this approach more meaningful to GRiSP partners).

Conclusion…….

PRESENTATION OF THE YEAR

Paul Red Smith

There is a clear opportunity to work with rice AR4D

actors in Ghana and AfricaRice to test whether the

seven-element user feedback framework developed

through this study can be used to make researchers

feedback activities more explicit, planned,

systematic and thus useful.

Conclusion……

PRESENTATION OF THE YEAR

Paul Red Smith

Specifically;

Identifying a group of rice researchers who are committed to exploring the issue of user feedback in more detail.

Working with the members of this group to identify a range of different issues in their research where high quality user feedback is required.

Next steps……

PRESENTATION OF THE YEAR

Paul Red Smith

Specifically;

Working through the elements of the feedback framework and specifying, designing and planning each element in detail.

Implementing these feedback loops and carefully analysing what actually happens in relation to each element

Making explicit if, how and how well the feedback / feedback loop contributed to the on-going research.

Next steps……

PRESENTATION OF THE YEAR

Paul Red Smith

For more information see:Sumberg, J., Heirman, J. and Raboanarielina, C. 2012. Strengthening User Feedback within Large-Scale AR4D. Final Report submitted by IDS to GFAR.