Towards a Knowledge Society : The mission of the Sudanese Knowledge Society

By Gada KadodaChair, Sudanese Knowledge Society

215/12/2012

NASA Earth Observatory image 2012. Find on: http://eoimages2.gsfc.nasa.gov/images/imagerecords/79000/79765/dnb_land_ocean_ice.2012.720x360.jpg

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Seminar Outline

• Knowledge & its Concepts– Knowledge Age– Knowledge Society– Knowledge Economy

• The Sudanese Knowledge Society– Vision, mission, structure, objectives and activities– Why should you join?

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Knowledge

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Subjective View

Objective View

Knowledge as a State

of Mind

Knowledge as Practice

Knowledge as an Object

Knowledge as Access to

Information

Knowledge as

Capability

Becerra-Fernandez & Sabherwal, Knowledge Management Systems and Processes, 2010

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Knowledge “... is understanding gained from experience”.

The know-how, born of experience, that allows correct decisions to be made, and effective processes to be developed and applied.

“... is a fluid mix of framed experience, values, contextual information, and expert insight that provides a framework for evaluating and incorporating new experiences and information. It originates and is applied in the minds of know-ers. In organisations, it often becomes embedded not only in documents or repositories but also in organisational routines, processes, practices, and norms.” [Davenport & Prusak, 2000]

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The Knowledge Age Evolution of the concept of knowledge (Eurocentric)

Greeks: K is absolute truth Medieval: All K is already known Industrial: K is infinite Information: K is global (digital revolution)

African Knowledge Systems Verbal, un-codified, embedded Indigenous, local Dates back to 1000s of years

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Knowledge Age Characteristics K is the actual product

− Value Creation− “Important” Truths

Production of K − Finding the experts− Collaborating productively− Innovating− Thinking systems− Valuing different types of K− Rewarding the “knowledgeable”

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Information & Knowledge Society

• Information society is more about technology while the contemporary concept of knowledge societies encompasses much broader social, ethical and political dimensions.

• Emphasis on rights such as :– Equity– Freedoms– Accessibility– ...

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Control of Knowledge

• The control of knowledge is associated with inequality, exclusion and social conflict.– Exclusive circles, wise men

• The demand for democracy, the concept of openness and the gradual emergence of a public forum for knowledge, fostered the spread of the ideas of universality, liberty and equality.– Books, printing press, schools, universities, ...

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Access to Knowledge

• The current spread of new technologies and the emergence of the internet as a public network brings new opportunities to widen the public knowledge forum.

• Can we reach “universal access to knowledge, and genuine sharing”?

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A Knowledge Society

• “A knowledge society is a society that is nurtured by its diversity and its capacities ...

• It is about its capabilities to identify, produce, process, transform, disseminate and use information to build and apply knowledge for human development.” [UNESCO]

– Is inclusive and skill-oriented

– Fosters knowledge sharing

– Creates new opportunities for development through ICTs

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Metacognition

• A key skill in the knowledge society:

– An awareness of the gaps in one’s own knowledge and the ability to fill in those gaps

– Metacognitive individuals view work as continuous, self-directed learning embedded in the fabric of daily life. Their chief goal is performance improvement.

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The Knowledge Economy

" The concept that supports creation of knowledge by organizational employees and helps and encourages them to transfer and better utilize their knowledge that is in line with company/organization goals “ [Wikipedia]

Views Knowledge & Education as:• A business product, as educational and innovative intellectual

products and services can be exported for a high value return.• A productive asset.

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KE Pillars [World Bank]

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Knowledge Economy Index (KEI) Measures country's ability to generate, adopt and diffuse knowledge Indicates potential of knowledge development

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10 Priorities for Africa's KE

1. Knowledge and Innovation

2. Building Integrated Policies

3. Mobilising Leadership

4. Innovation by Local Communities

5. Innovation Aligned with Domestic Strengths and National Needs

6. Education Reform

7. ICTs

8. Open Development Processes

9. Building on the Know-how of Others

10.Strategic Monitoring and Evaluation

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Knowledge & Innovation“... the process of creation, exchange, evolution, and application of K to produce

new goods, services or social arrangements that are experienced as beneficial by a community, a market, or society” [World Bank]

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Who innovates?

DST (South Africa), M. of foreign Affairs (Finland), and World Bank. Seminar on Utilising Knowledge for Development: 10 Priorities for Africa. 2007

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Worldmapper.com

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Land Area

Wealth in 2015R & D Expenditure

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Knowledge Management “Knowledge Management is the leveraging of

collective wisdom to increase responsiveness and innovation.”

K is connected

KM is a catalyst

K is applicable in new environments

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Knowledge Management

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Change ManagementCommunities of Practice

Complex Adaptive SystemsE-learning

IC ValuationK Services

Project ManagementLearning Organisation

Professional K DisciplineSystem Thinking

KM is a concept in which an organisation gathers, organizes, shares, and analyzes the knowledge of individuals and groups across the organization in ways that directly affect performance”

Robert S. Seiner

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An Enabling Environment for KM

Information Culture

Access to Technology

Human Resources

Organisational Process Stability

Leadership Commitment

...

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Sudanese Knowledge Society (SKS)

• Born out from KMCA2012

• Registered as Cultural Society in June 2012

• Draws from UNESCO’s definition of a Knowledge Society with a:

– Vision to realising the knowledge society in Sudan.– Mission to work for enabling institutions, organizations and the

people of the Sudan to utilise the concepts, methods and values of the knowledge society – with particular emphasis on the utilisation of knowledge management.

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Goal and Strategy

• Our goal is to serve as a catalyst in the transformation of Sudan into a knowledge society -- which is a source of human and sustainable development.

• Our key strategy is “Knowledge to empower people”

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Who we are and our objectives?

• A multidisciplinary and diverse group of individuals (academics, professionals, craftspeople, students, development workers, etc.) working together to achieve :

– Fostering knowledge sharing among the Sudanese society (e.g. through regular documentation)

– Sensitization of KM among the different segments of society – Raising the profile of KM as a profession– Mapping for sources of knowledge in Sudan– Contributing to building the capacities for the different segments of society to

utilize KM as a tool– Creating knowledge networks that are inclusive of the diverse sources of

knowledge

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SKS Structure

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Executive committee

Membership Committee

Events and Program

Committee

Media and Marketing Committee

Policy planning and deployment Committee

Knowledge Management

Committee

Chair Deputy

General Secretary

Finance Secretary

Governance structure includes a Board of Trustees Partner Groups are linked to relevant office (e.g. 1%CLUB)

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SKS Activities• Organising seminars, forums, open days, training courses, workshops and

conferences, to contribute to building the capacity of its members and reach out to the wider community to realise its vision for Sudan as a prosperous knowledge society. The society will also engage in community projects of relevance to our mission, participate in related local and international events, support research and development efforts and share the expertise and ideas of society members with interested individuals , communities and organisations.

• Focusing on Knowledge management as a knowledge age discipline, promote and support its application for personal and organisational use. Examples of other topics include:– Information and communication technologies as an opportunity for development.– Preservation and protection of Indigenous forms of knowledge .– Social, ethical and political dimensions that shape a knowledge society.

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SKS Membership

• Current members are 38 (friends from KMCA in the 100s)

• Need to become more visible and expand membership

• Attract new members and make more friends:– Values upheld and activities conducted– Networks and partnerships

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Why should you join SKS?

• To help in emanating more of our Sudanese light by:

– Networking with like minds towards positive social change

– Addressing broader issues of building knowledge societies

– Promoting knowledge sharing as an approach

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Group Discussion

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• What is the role of young people in the Knowledge Society?– Of mathematical sciences?– Of higher education institutions?

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Thank you ...