Introduction
Why Knowledge Management
Why Knowledge Management
Parliaments in modern democracies need to be:
- representative of the social and political diversity of the people by ensuring equal opportunities and protections for all the members of society;
- transparent by being open to their citizens in the conduct of their business by making information available; through different media in an open and reusable format;
- engaged and informed by involving the citizens, associations, civil society, experts and scientists in the workings of parliaments
Members of parliament in playing their multiple roles and responsibilities have become by and large knowledge workers, information analysts, articulate communicators as well as negotiators. As knowledge workers, they should acquire, process and apply knowledge to form opinions about issues and on that basis take a point of view or a particular position. As information analysts, parliamentarians should obtain, process and use information to support their views. As articulate communicators, they ought to win support for their points of view on given issues.
Given the accelerating and revolutionary pace of change that human civilization is undergoing, there is much information and knowledge than within the purview of parliamentarians.
The creation and application of new knowledge is thus essential to the survival of parliaments. Parliaments are essentially organisations that work around the acquisition, elaboration and dissemination of information and data; and theyare organisations that process information and data in order to function and deliver on their constitutional mandates.
The above roles requires the acquisition and exchange of information and knowledge that are at the core of their parliamentary activities. Parliaments that strive to improve their performance and capacity for engaging citizens and society have to pay more attention on how they manage their knowledge assets.
The overall goal of Knowledge Management in Parliament is to provide meaningful and useful guidelines to Parliaments on how they can align their parliaments culturally and socially to take advantage of the opportunities of knowledge sharing within and beyond their borders.
Purpose
Purpose
These guideline aim at providing an insight and direction on how to manage knowledge in Parliaments and also gives a wide range of tools and methods that can help parliaments to share and apply the knowledge that exists within its institutions better. By working to simplify and standardize knowledge management products and methodologies, parliaments can cut the time-consuming processes of 'reinventing the wheel' every time one embarks on a knowledge-related task. These guidelines is just but one step along the road to advocating for a simplified and standardized approach towards knowledge management in legislative institutions.
Target audience
Target audience
These guidelines aim to explain the theory and outline the strategies and tools that could be used in knowledge management in parliaments. It is targeted at both Parliamentary staff and MPs.
The Guidelines are not intended to be read in one sitting. Rather, they should be seen as a reference guide of interest to different readers for a variety of purposes.
How can parliaments benefit from KM
How can parliaments benefit from KM
Knowledge, besides being central and strategic in most organisations is also perishable. It is increasingly short-lived and needs to be constantly updated. At the same time, knowledge also gets better and useful if shared. By sharing its knowledge (at least internally), an organization gains more than they may lose. Sharing knowledge is a synergistic process that creates value and therefore -requires collaborative effort which should be embedded within existing processes
Knowledge Management in the parliamentary context could lead to:
Achievement of Operational Improvements:
- KM will help to implement programs for continuous learning and sharing of best practices ensuring better productivity and cost savings from improved knowledge sharing and knowledge reuse.
- Improved relationships with MPs, citizens, press and the society at large
- KM will enable parliaments to improve their relationships with different stakeholders by enabling more timely and accurate anticipation of their needs resulting in better service, better communication and from there openness and transparency.
Leverage on Technology Investments
- KM enables better usage of IT by sharing knowledge of how available IT can be used or deployed leading to the development of effective e-parliaments.
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