The authors report on a project that evolved from a single-purpose project--research use in nursing service administration--to a multipurpose process. The project team initially intended to conduct a classic research use project to develop management interventions to improve job satisfaction. The team eventually conducted three basic research projects and systematically applied this knowledge to the practice of nursing service administration. The members of the team, who came from academic and service settings, collaborated in a dynamic and interactive process of generating and applying knowledge. The products of this work were immediately useful in the setting and can be used more broadly in organizing and managing the care of hospital patients.