KM professionals and facilitators need to understand and appreciate the role and power of questions in knowledge work. Further, we need to be able to apply questions in order to create and discover knowledge. There are some compelling reasons for this including:
Questions are strong attractors in the chaos of ideas, they gather, focus, attract and energize the conversation.
Only? questions have the power to beak our current midsets, they set in motion the deep relection needed to alter our beliefs.
It is the place and the space 'between not knowing and our desire to know' where we are most attentive, self-aware and alive. Questions hold the key to this special area.
Compelling and quality questions drive knowledge creation and expansion in a fundamental way. Knowledge emerges around good questions.
Questions energize and glue our conversation, draw people into the circle to participate and gather diverse opinions.
By: Dr Nhamo W. Samasuwo, Learning and Innovation Subunit, Development Programme Services Unit (DPSU) Independent Development Trust (IDT), South Africa
KM, Emerging Technologies and Innovative Schemes (emerging & frontier technologies, biotechnologies, nanotechnology, ICT, technopoles)
Emerging Technologies and innovative schemes includes frontier technologies such as Biotechnologies, Nanotechnologies, ICT, etc… together with innovative opportunities such as Techno-Entreprise Incubators, Technopoles, Science and Technology Parks, creative cities, etc… Based on Track 5 of KMAfrica2009.
Udo Richard Averweg - Information Services, eThekwini Municipality and University of KwaZulu-Natal
Stella Anne Jory - Afrika Leadership Development Institute
Abstract
Intranets are very much suited to use as a strategic tool in knowledge management (KM) due to their ability to support distribution, connectivity and publishing. The Intranet should be seen as integral to an organisation’s KM system and should be tailored to suit and enhance an organisation’s knowledge-sharing activities. The question arises: To what extent does an organisation’s existing Intranet facilitate knowledge-sharing? This question is explored by selection of a large organisation – the eThekwini Municipality, Durban South Africa – as the field of application. Derived from a mixed methodology approach, the results of a recent survey are presented.
There is an important concept in KM that suggests that all knowledge is created by asking questions; the question is therefore a basic tool of KM. The the question here is, what is the smartest question that you can ask? Here are some possible answers to the question:
increasingly I'm starting to see software titles for corporates that represent themselves as 'Knowledge Management Systems Software' or words combing these magic words in some order. The idea is a clear and a seductive one; you can somehow take what is in the heads of your people and make it magically available to future generations via some computer-based information technology. With all the features and marketing hype around such software, it is important to remember some fundamentals:
Authors: By Mr. J. J. Musakali and Dr. D. C. Rotich, Moi University, Kenya
ABSTRACT
This paper examines the development and access to knowledge through Open Access, propelled by emerging technologies in the publishing industry in Africa. The paper further discusses opportunities that present themselves through Open Access and the benefits to scholars worldwide. Challenges that face this practice are discussed and solutions suggested.
Dr. Shittu Raimi AKINOLA (Development Planner & Environmentalist)
Department of Architecture, Covenant University, 10 Idiroko Road, Canaan Land, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria.
e-mail:srakinola@yahoo.com;
Mobile: 234-803-407-5110