Table 2 Map of facilitation processes and activities to internal absorptive capacity meta-routines

Facilitating variation

Encourages critical assessment of current practice that leads to identification of performance gap(s)

Introduces new ideas (i.e., research and associated knowledge that may address performance gaps)

Enhances staff receptivity to change

Identifies resources needed to support change

Motivates and encourages others to make a change

Supports the development of new competencies/skills among staff

Managing internal selection regimes

Assists in establishing common goals

Enables implementation of evidence into practice

Enables research use

Attends to the process of achieving goals

Provides feedback about research use

Sharing knowledge and superior practices across the organization

Establishes effective (internal) communication channels

Promotes a culture for change

Creates a supportive (local) climate

Creates a vision that embraces evidence-based practice

Reflecting, updating, and replicating (retention)

Tailors facilitation activities to local needs and circumstances

Provides ongoing support and resources to achieve goals

Facilitates trialable initiatives

Maintains change momentum

Supports the development of new competencies/skills among staff

Supports a goal-oriented dynamic process that promotes learning through critical reflection

Managing adaptive tension (continuous progression)

Creates a vision that embraces evidence-based practice

Promotes a culture for change

Creates a supportive (local) climate

Empowers staff