Return to search

The knowledge audit : from information management to knowledge management : a case study of a provincial library service

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: There is a strong pressure for organizations to attaining, maintaining and improving
knowledge standards for sustained competitive strategic advantage. This assignment
examines the status of knowledge and knowledge management (KM) practices at the
Provincial Library Services (PLIS). I approached the topic by collecting data relevant
to the management of information and knowledge and benefits of the KM activities
using the following methods:
A review of literature and research: - addressing the paucity of literature and
research that is both current and directly relevant to libraries was one of the
motivating factors behind the study; analysis of key documents and
information systems; a questionnaire was distributed to the PUS personnel;
informal interviews and observations.
The results seem to indicate that PLIS has a knowledge infrastructure and a
technology infrastructure. This is apparent in its knowledge programmes, e-mail
system, web page, library management system (PROLIB), and limited access to the
Internet. Staff has some fairly basic knowledge and information needs that must be
addressed. Few knowledge contents should be established. The baseline information
provides a foundation for more coordination; recognition of the importance and
enhancement of its KM related activities. KM activities should focus on individual
capabilities. Recommendations are articulated in terms of a proposed KM strategy.
It became evident that success of knowledge management depends on an
environment, which is conducive to conversion of individual knowledge to
organizational knowledge, the value to which employees place on knowledge and
their attitude towards KM. Moreover, indicators of success and evidence of
effectiveness should take the measuring criteria beyond a checklist of policies and
strategies, procedures and processes, systems, activities but professional competence,
commitment, benchmarking and adoption of best practices for attainment of KM
goals. Important to note, is the reality that a KM activity for PLIS has to take broader
transformation imperatives into account. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Daar word sterk druk geplaas op organisasies om kennis te bekom, te behou en te
verbeter vir volgehoue mededingende strategiese voorsprong. Hierdie werstuk
ondersoek die status van kennis en kennisbestuur- (Knowledge Management, KM)
praktyke van die Provinsiale Biblioteekdiens. Ek het die- onderwerp benader deur
data te versamel wat relevant is tot die bestuur van inligting en kennis sowel as die
voordele van KM aktiwiteite deur die volgende metodes te gebruik:
'n Oorsig van literatuur en navorsing: - een van die faktore wat die studie gemotiveer
het is om die beperkte beskikbare literatuur en navorsing wat op datum sowel as
relevant tot biblioteke is aan te spreek; 'n ontleding van die kern dokumente en
inligtingsisteme; 'n vraelys wat versprei is onder die personeel van die Provinsiale
Biblioteekdiens; informele onderhoude en waarnemings.
Die resultate dui daarop dat die Provinsiale Biblioteekdiens 'n kennis en tegnologiese
infrastruktuur het. Dit blyk uit die kennisprogram, die e-pos sisteem, die Webtuiste,
die biblioteekbestuursisteem (Prolib), en beperkte toegang tot die Internet. Personeel
het basiese kennis en inligtingsbehoeftes wat aangespreek moet word.
Kennisinhoude moet daargestel word. Die basislyn inligting voorsien 'n grondslag
vir meer koôrdinasie; besef van die belangrikheid en die verbetering van die KM
verwante aktiwiteite. KM aktiwiteite moet fokus op individuele vermoëns.
Aanbevelings word uitgedruk in terme van 'n voorgestelde KM strategie.
Dit het duidelik geword dat die sukses van kennisbestuur afhang van 'n omgewing
wat bevorderlik is vir die omskakeling van kennis van die individu na organisatoriese
kennis, die waarde wat personeel heg aan kennis en hulle houding teenoor kennis
bestuur. Aanwysings van sukses en bewys van effektiwiteit moet meetbare kriteria
verder neem as 'n lys van beleide en strategieë, prosedures en prosesse, sisteme en
aktiwiteite maar moet professionele vermoëns toewyding "benchmarking" en
gebruik van die beste praktyke vir die bereiking van KM doelwitte toepas. Dit is
belangrik om te let op die realiteit dat 'n KM aktiwiteit van die Provinsiale
Biblioteekdiens wyer transformerende imperatiewe in ag moet neem.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/50501
Date03 1900
CreatorsGogela, Zingisa Zeroa
ContributorsVan Der Walt, M. S., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences. Dept. of Information Science .
PublisherStellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
Languageen_ZA
Detected LanguageUnknown
TypeThesis
Format94 p. : ill.
RightsStellenbosch University

Page generated in 0.0543 seconds