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Aid is a knowledge industry : NGOs: learning from experience?
Document type: article
Download file(s):
137934 (179 KB)
Abstract:
Although NGDOs are taking more interest in knowledge management, they have so far failed to recognize that they are part of a knowledge industry, of which the delivery of goods and services is only a part. Nearly all of the organizations regard knowledge as a commodity, and see learning as an activity that contributes to the use and enhancement of that commodity. The end product of knowledge management initiatives is often a new or improved information system, rather than improved processes or changes in behaviour that encourage learning within the organization. When designing and constructing a knowledge infrastructure, organizations must give priority to facilitating learning among their staff. But the current emphasis on producing measurable results in the development sector makes it difficult for NGOs to become learning organizations. If an NGO wants to apply a second-generation KM approach and create a learning organization, learning and reflection will have to be imposed from above. Without that, lessons learned and new solutions will get no further than the individual employees on the work floor, and will never filter through to inform management or influence new policy.
Authors:
Heres, M.
Category:
Policy
End Page:
14
Serial number:
5
ISSN:
1874-2033
Journal:
The Broker
Keywords:
non-governmental organizations
,
knowledge management
Language:
eng
Organization:
The Broker
Year:
2007
Right:
© 2007 IDP. This article has been licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported license.
Subject:
Development Cooperation General
Start Page:
11
Title:
Aid is a knowledge industry : NGOs: learning from experience?