Institutional Research (IR) Meets Knowledge Management

Abstract

In this study, a selected university’s capacity to provide necessary and meaningful information under a KM framework in order to guide it through its current and new and sweeping initiatives was examined. Specifically, information generated from a university-created Study Committee charged with studying the IR function and key units that perform this function were analyzed. A critical analysis of the committee, its methodological approach to studying the IR function, the IR units, and the findings of the committee was conducted. It was found that KM principles were employed in a limited fashion, and that no knowledge creation was taking place. Another key finding was that the primary focus of the committee and a key unit in the IR function were much more concerned about the decision support systems and their ability to provide good data that, in turn, they believed would lead to excellent decision-making.