Well it’s a very huge area to discuss

Hi all,

A bit late. First of all thanks for those who organize this conference and giving us a chance to learn more about Knowledge and its management.

My name is Asad Uz Zaman from Pakistan. I served 4 years for United Nations Development Programme and 2 years for IUCN – The World Conservation Union in different ICTs and KM related positions. Presently am doing some hardcore research in KM/AI area with Staffordshire University, UK. In addition am writing a research paper on Communities of Practice for water sector of Pakistan as next step of my paper I presented in WIS.
Frankly speaking I started to explore KM in early 2004 and am still looking to learn more from you guys.

For me Knowledge is obligatory to do any type of work but before commenting on KM one has to clarify the term knowledge itself. For me ther is a critical difference between knowledge and information. Knowledge is occasionally viewed as processed information, the line of causation being from information to knowledge. . Information is perceived as a commodity capable of yielding knowledge. However, under conditions of uncertainty when information is incomplete, the line of causation between knowledge and information may be reversed. Here, knowledge could be used to interpret the incomplete information. There are a variety of different concepts associated with 'knowledge'. In epistemological terms, knowledge represents a set of justified beliefs, whereas 'knowledge' in technology studies and the innovation literature is often understood in a very inclusive manner. Skills ('know-how', or rather 'can-do') are also subsumed as tacit components of knowledge.

Well I think it’s not the place to consider about the nature of knowledge. However, it should be clear that knowledge process is basically different from information process. Information process can be understood as transmissions of some sort of data from a sender to a receiver, (say tacit) as the process of sending and transmission (without any understanding b/w sender and receiver). Knowledge flows are more complex exchange processes that are directed at understanding the messages - the 'information'. Knowledge flows are more reciprocal. Sender and receiver need to understand the information that is exchanged. This necessitates reflection on both sides, based on previous experience, best practices etc. These interactions are approximately not ever unidirectional, but mostly mutual.

What kind of knowledge is valuable to you?

I think most of the non-profit organizations classify in the micro level knowledge management but those who are dealing in regional and international issues need to have large scale knowledge management setups by combining the micro level KM setups. This may involve different products like international gateways, websites, and resource centers, conferences etc.

How do you keep knowledge up-to-date?
Greater knowledge sharing, physical interaction and the one we are currently doing (this e-conference) and some other tools as well

Is there a relationship with learning?
No doubts YES. Organizational learning is integral part of knowledge management and it helps to establish a knowledge based organization. But it also depend on so many factors like

- Organization Knowledge Management Strategy
- Bottoms-up approach to knowledge management – that needs to be more broadly replicated.
- Communities of Practices
- Measures that gauge the impact of knowledge sharing/leverage efforts on work improvement
in organization.
Well it’s a very huge area to discuss.

Would also recommend the stuff handed over at the end of WIS6. I studied that stuff and
found it very useful especially to understand the complexities of KM.