E-conference 2005 KM: [round 1] ‘What do we mean by knowledge management?’.

Dear Participants,

The topic for this week is ‘What do we mean by knowledge management?’.

Although we provided you with background material and reports from the 2004 conference, we hope to start more or less from scratch. We really want to deal with and focus on the reality on the ground. Therefore do not hesitate to ask for explanations during the discussions. In this e-conference we want to build an understanding of what is knowledge management. Ultimately this should lead to more effective and efficient action in the WATSAN sector.

Just to start the discussion process, some questions:

• What kind of knowledge is valuable to you?
• What are the characteristics of knowledge and managing knowledge?
• What kind of knowledge do you need to do your job?
• How do you keep knowledge up-to-date?
• Is there a relationship with learning?
• What are procedures, methodologies or projects in relation to knowledge management?

Your answer: 'To me, knowledge management means .....'

In your first message please introduce yourself so that we “know” each other. Some 100 participants will take part in the discussion. This number looks promising for a lively interaction.

Kind regards, Jaap Pels

Updated - Friday 27 May 2005