Title:
Tensions in the
Application
of the Knowledge Management Success Paradigm in South Africa
Abstract: This research adopted a
critical
analysis of the application of knowledge Management (KM)in the context
of
South Africa. The study focused on six success areas that affect
successful
KM initiatives: culture, learning, support, business strategy, top
management
support, and technology as enabler. The research was conducted over a
seven-month
period between February 2006 and September 2006 with the participation
of
six large organizations engaging with some form of KM initiatives in
South
Africa. Apart from the general focus on the six success areas, there
were certain
critical insights. For instance the issue of culture was prominent with
the
respondents indicating a need to cultivate the culture of knowledge
sharing
in organizations. This is not well established and employees view it as
something
‘extra’ they are giving the organization. This makes KM initiatives
unsuccessful,
since culture is a problematic success factor due to the complexities
in
‘incentivizing’ knowledge sharing.
Author: Nixon Muganda-Ochara, Kosheek
Sewchurran,
Mzingaye Ndlovu, and Amanda Pillay.