Knowledge Management in the Palestinian Public Sector

Introduction

Contemporary organizations of all kinds are facing a wave of rapid changes and development that has swept the world today; the most significant and influential change is the information and technology revolution which adopts the advanced scientific knowledge and the optimal use of information flowing from the great advances in computer technology and the Internet. Consequently, knowledge has become the most important strategic source as well as the most powerful and influential factor in the success or failure of the organization (Al-Zatma, 2011, p. 2).

Knowledge management is considered as one of the contemporary intellectual developments that has been initially proposed as a new framework and approaches to the study and understanding of institutional work. It has rapidly become a practical application more appropriate to rapid changes in the business world. Its role has increased after it has been shown that building and maintaining competitive advantage depends primarily on knowledge assets and investment in these assets in order to promote continuous creativity which is also one of the components of the growth of competitive advantage for as long periods as possible (Al-Khouri, 2015, p. 7).

Knowledge management is what ensures the generation, distribution and application of knowledge in today's organizations to help them make rational management decisions, promote creativity, increase competitiveness, achieve strategic objectives of these organizations, increase their value, and finally improve their performance. It has been argued that not all information is knowledge and not all knowledge is valuable; therefore, organizational management should capture and employ useful knowledge in the organization's activities and operations (Al-Faris, 2010, p. 60).

In order to achieve the desired benefit of adopting the knowledge management approach in organizations, the role of the organization's management should focus on the effective use of this approach by employing it until they achieve the strategic goals and operational objectives of the organizations, enhance the organization's various capabilities as well as the skills of its cadres, and achieve the development, improvement and sustainability of these capabilities and skills. The management of the organization should focus on directing knowledge management processes towards achieving and institutionalizing the concept of institutionalization of knowledge. Emphasis should be placed on the implementation of a knowledge strategy which ensures that knowledge management operations in all organizational units are effectively integrated (Olayan, 2008, p.2).

Linking knowledge management to performance is one of the most modern and vital concepts where serious attempts have been made to measure and apply them in the light of the rapid economic, social, and political changes as well as the fluctuations in the local and global levels. This is reflected in the performance level in business organizations which is considered as the borderline between success and failure. The process of making important decisions in an organization (e.g., determining the trends of the organization's activity, determining the whether they are close or away from achieving their goals, implementing plans and programs, and rationalizing the use of resources and the efficiency and effectiveness of the organization) is based on performance (Al-Faris, 2010). P. 61).