CDCC

Knowledge management in a digital environmentSandra John, ChiefCaribbean Knowledge Management Centre

Knowledge management in a digital environmentSandra John, ChiefCaribbean Knowledge Management Centre

CDCC ECLAC Digital KM Initiatives

KM – an understanding

Making the case for KM

KM in the Caribbean Context

1

2

3

4

CDCC

Understanding Knowledge ManagementUnderstanding Knowledge Management

• KM means different things to different organizations.

• Each organization must arrive at its own unique understanding

• KM is not about purchasing a computer software package and configuring it to suit our data needs,

• It is about first creating a "willing" human network and developing a culture of knowledge sharing as an integral part of your work flow.

• Agreeing on objectives in advance is also critical to the success of any strategy

CDCC

Data, information and knowledgeData, information and knowledge

Knowledge

Information

Data

CDCC

Knowledge involvesKnowledge involves

• Beliefs and values• Creativity• Judgment• Skills and expertise• Theories

• Opinions• Concepts• Rules• Relationships• Previous experiences

CDCC

What is knowledge managementWhat is knowledge management

• The process by which we consciously seek to build, shape and exploit the body of knowledge within our organization – Giannetto and Wheeler: KM Toolkit

• Tools and methods to help mobilize an organization’s knowledge rapidly and effectively - KM Africa

• Systematic & explicit management of knowledge related activities, practices, programmes, and policies within an enterprise - Wiig

CDCC

Understanding KMUnderstanding KM

People

Enterprise

Intellectual Asset

Information Technology

CDCC

Asking the right questionsAsking the right questions

• Who has it? Where do they keep it?

• Who else needs it?

• How can we persuade them to share it?

• How is it communicated?

• How is it kept up to date?

• Where is it stored? How to access?

• Which knowledge is relevant?

CDCC

KM- the processKM- the process

Identify sources of knowledge Determine which is key to success Capture details of expertise of staff Classify knowledge into meaningful categories Communicate the availability to all who need to

use it Encourage and facilitate sharing of best practices

and lessons learned Identify new knowledge products might be helpful

in moving closer towards the development goals

CDCC

Making the case for KM in the CaribbeanSandra John, ChiefCaribbean Knowledge Management Centre

Making the case for KM in the CaribbeanSandra John, ChiefCaribbean Knowledge Management Centre

CDCC

WSIS Development ChallengeWSIS Development Challenge

Our challenge is to harness the potential of information and communication technology to promote the Millennium Development Goals

• eradication of extreme poverty and hunger; • achievement of universal primary education; • promotion of gender equality and empowerment of women; • reduction of child mortality; improvement of maternal

health; • combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases; • ensuring environmental sustainability; and • development of global partnerships for development for the

attainment of a more peaceful, just and prosperous world.

CDCC

Information society, Knowledge economyInformation society, Knowledge economy

Widespread use of knowledge to produce economic benefit

High value on innovation and new ideas and relationships

Improved productivity High quality goods and services Knowledge recognized as a source of

competitiveness Widespread use of computers and the Internet to

generate, share and apply knowledge “smart people, smart systems”

CDCC

Development StrategyDevelopment Strategy

• A clear vision for the country accompanied by a coherent medium term development strategy … understood and communicated, debated and derided, attacked and defended, adjusted and amended …. and eventually, accepted by most stakeholders and implemented by all influential branches of government

CDCC

Knowledge StrategyKnowledge Strategy

Prominently positioned in that development strategy and consistent with its aims

should be an articulation of the expected contribution of knowledge. That strategic plan will provide the knowledge strategy

with a rationale - a context.

But to be useful, this knowledge has to be managed

CDCC

High level leadershipHigh level leadership

Responsibilities:• Leadership and implementation• Inter-departmental coordination• Identify roles for existing organisations• Make recommendations for re-training

and retooling• Assess and report on progress

CDCC

KM in the Public SectorKM in the Public Sector

The public sector’s most valuable asset is the knowledge of its people – Raise awareness of KM– Begin to think and talk about KM– Communicate the benefits– Recognize that knowledge transfer adds

value– Value knowledge as a source of

competitive advantage– Enable and reward a culture of sharing

CDCC

I do not share information becauseI do not share information because

• Do not have the time• The information I have is confidential• Did not think it would be useful• Too much trouble• Knowledge is power• Never thought about it• Might make someone else able to do my job• My information is my advantage • Information might be used inappropriately• “They” will no longer need to come to me• If it is inaccurate, I’ll be blamed

CDCC

Benefits of Knowledge sharingBenefits of Knowledge sharing

• Fosters better working relationships• More knowledgeable workforce• Avoid duplication or misdirected effort• Less time spent on research• Better reports, policies & presentations• More objective decision making• Facilitates brainstorming for innovative

ideas• Opportunity to build on the ideas of others• Smoothes process of change

management

CDCC

Efficient information flows:Efficient information flows:

• Facilitate implementation of a cohesive development strategy

• Avoid miscommunication and the dissemination of incorrect information

• Avoid presenting a distorted picture of the nation’s social and economic conditions – to citizens and to would-be investors

• Facilitate the wider use of resources, ideas, documents• Create a more positive impression of the Public Sector• Offer a more efficient service to business clients• Maintain a complete archive of projects/ policy changes• Fully exploit the investment in ICTs – the communications

enabler• Add value to existing information• Results in better communication all round

CDCC

CDCC

ObjectiveObjective

“provide an increasingly modern and efficient information service to the member countries of the

Caribbean Development and Cooperation Committee, with a view to strengthening their

capacity to bridge the digital divide and bring the goal of a Caribbean information society, knowledge

economy closer to realization”

CDCC

CKMC - responsibility forCKMC - responsibility for

WebsiteIntranetDocumentation CentreKnowledge Management PortalCaribbean Digital LibraryWSIS Follow upResearch/technical assistance related to

ICT for Development

CDCC

http//:ckmportal.eclacpos.orghttp//:ckmportal.eclacpos.org

Knowledge Management Portal - a vehicle for all web-based information services– Development profiles– Caribbean Digital Library– ICT Profiles– Bibliographic database– Skills Bank– Communities of Practice

CDCC

• Open Source, Open standards software– “Plone” is the content management

software we chose

• Partnering approach• Information sharing• Learning before advising• Capacity building• Problem solving

Our commitment Our commitment

CDCC

Add title text

Partnerships

UNESCO

UN ICTTask Force

UWI

CDB

CARICOM

CTU

CDCC

ChallengesChallenges

Human resource constraints

Maintaining productive partnerships

Time constraints – the broad scope of our activities does not allow for sufficient time to be allocated to each task.

Limited extra-budgetary funding for projects and programmes

CDCC

Add title text

2008-2009

Measurement

Training

Technical assistance

KM Portal

Development Profiles

Communities of practice

CDCC