The ability to filter evidence and information through one ’ s knowledge , technical skills and lived experience plays a key role in ensuring that the relevant evidence has been highlighted .
‘ PATIENT ’ VALUES AND EXPECTATIONS – ‘ COMMUNITY ’ VALUES AND EXPECTATIONS As economic development practitioners work to foster prosperity within the communities they represent across Australia , it is imperative that this work reflects the goals and values of these localities . Local governments tend to be indiscriminate in their selection and pursuit of development opportunities , which has at times led to the disjuncture of local economic development strategies and the delivery of benefits to communities ( Harris , 2015 ). The emphasis that the John Hopkins nursing EBP model places on patient values and expectations provides a useful framework for ensuring that economic development strategies and initiatives enacted have provided sufficient consideration for the potential outcomes and how the impact this may have on community members . An “ Architect Analogy of EBP ” ( Paez , 2018 ) has been proposed as an analogy by which to describe the relationship between practitioners and patients , where practitioners work according to the needs and preferences of their patients , as an architect would a client , helping to choose appropriate material ( evidence ), reject fault material and ensuring that things stay on course . Throughout the process there is an opportunity to continue to evaluate new and emerging information in consultation with the patient ’ s unique circumstances to monitor the effectiveness of the intervention undertaken .
Particularly in the case of local economic development practitioners , who in many cases will be the first point of contact , and are also themselves members of the communities they support , their position on the frontline of the service delivery provides the ability to better respond to the characteristics of the local economy . In the United Kingdom , people believe strongly in the power of local community organisations to improve the area and many people feel they have too little control over the public services they receive ( Davidson et al , 2015 ). This is one reason why the utilisation of an evidence-based approach similar to those developed in the health care system has the potential to ensure that economic policy and initiatives truly benefit the populations for which they are to be implemented .
EBP AS A FRAMEWORK FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COVID and other means of disruption demand economic practitioners be agile and able to adapt quickly . Local governments traditionally spend months crafting economic development policies tailored to expanding the local industry base , however the economic fallout of COVID-19 has seen many local governments pivot toward polices and programs that attempt to sustain the current local economy by adopting approaches to mitigate economic damage in real time ( Wilson et al ., 2020 ). An evidence-based practice model provides a useful framework for guiding and informing this work , as it weights the risks , benefits and costs against the backdrop of ‘ patient ’ preferences ( Dang et al , 2018 ), aiding the efficient use of public resources .
Embracing an evidence-based approach to local economic development will not be without its challenges , and will require a willingness of all stakeholders to replace belief and conventional wisdom with an unrelenting commitment to gather the necessary facts to make informed and intelligent decisions ( Pfeffer & Sutton , 2006 ). The COVID-19 pandemic has seen local governments and other economic development organisations rise to meet the economic and social challenges within their communities using the tools they have at their disposal ( Wilson et al ., 2020 ). In an increasingly uncertain world , it will be this ability to provide accurate and timely assessments of the local economy and respond appropriately during periods of crisis , as a nurse would of a patient in the emergency room , that will enable economic development practitioners to support the communities in which they live and work .
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
TRISTAN CARTMEL Tristan Cartmel is Principal Economic Development Officer , Fraser Coast Regional Council , where he is responsible for leading Council ’ s investment attraction activities . Tristan holds a
Master ’ s degree in Commercial Law from the University of Melbourne , and a Bachelor of Asia and International Studies , Griffith University . He has worked across both the private and public sectors in Australia , China and South Korea . Tristan is passionate about utilising ‘ big data analytics ’ to seek out innovative and sustainable solutions to the economic , social and environmental opportunities and challenges facing communities now and into the future .
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