ECLAC Digital KM Initiatives

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

2. 2 3 4 ECLAC Digital KM Initiatives 1 KM – an understanding Making the case for KM KM in the Caribbean Context

3. Understanding 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

4. Data, information and knowledge

5. Beliefs and values Creativity Judgment Skills and expertise Theories Opinions Concepts Rules Relationships Previous experiences Knowledge involves

6. What 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

7. Understanding KM

8. Asking 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?

9. KM- 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

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

11. WSIS 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.

12. Information 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”

13. Development 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

14. Knowledge 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

15. High 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

16. KM 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

17. I 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

18. Benefits 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

19. 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

21. Objective “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”

22. CKMC - responsibility for • Website • Intranet • Documentation Centre • Knowledge Management Portal • Caribbean Digital Library • WSIS Follow up • Research/technical assistance related to ICT for Development

23. http//: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

24. Our commitment • Open Source, Open standards software • “Plone” is the content management software we chose • Partnering approach • Information sharing • Learning before advising • Capacity building • Problem solving

25. UNESCO CDB Partnerships UN ICT Task Force CARICOM UWI CTU Add title text

26. Challenges • 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

27. Measurement KM Portal 2008-2009 Training Development Profiles Technical assistance Communities of practice Add title text

28. Thank You!