Promoting Knowledge Management in Public Sector Enterprises for Sustainability

Introduction

Knowledge Management is the quintessential need in modern day organizations. Both private and public sector organizations have realized the need to establish and nurture knowledge management practices to ensure both business prosperity and long-term sustainability. Public and private organizations worldwide have embraced the concept of knowledge management since the advent of the knowledge-focused economy (Anning-Dorson, 2018). Knowledge strategies have been adopted by organizations at a rate that is commensurate with the exponential expansion in the value of knowledge as a resource and a source of competitiveness (Roberts, 2015). The dawn of Knowledge Management (KM) has revolutionized the functioning of organizations across diverse sectors. Knowledge may support the survival and growth of businesses (Lee, 2006). However, organizations need to first build systems that will ensure the successful creation, acquisition and dissemination of knowledge in a seamless manner.

Consequently, knowledge management inside enterprises must be effectively managed (Johannessen & Olsen, 2003). Public sector enterprises are no exception to this rule and have been witnessing a dynamic shift in terms of managing its knowledge assets. It is however, important to note that in comparison to private firms, public sector enterprises have been lagging behind both in terms of adopting knowledge management practices and leveraging it to gain competitive advantage over other businesses. Massaro et al. (2015) claims that there are few KM studies in the public sector, particularly in the armed forces and law enforcement. The goals of knowledge management may be summed up as enabling the company to behave as intelligently as possible to ensure its viability and overall success and to make the most of its knowledge assets in all other respects (Wiig, 1997). It is therefore important that public sector enterprises strengthen themselves to cope up with the changing demands of the business environment by adopting the right approach towards knowledge management interventions.

Public sector enterprises often experience challenges from their employees who collectively form part of the internal stakeholders, as well as face resistance from external stakeholders, towards application of knowledge management practices. Public sector organizations are plagued with a plethora of bottlenecks which further make it challenging for them in ensuring an effective knowledge management system. This chapter discusses why it is quintessential for public sector enterprises to ensure that their employees act as change agents and facilitate the effective implementation of knowledge management systems within the organization. This paradigm shift can be led by creation of a training mechanism that ensures that employees in the public sector are sensitized about their role in streamlining the knowledge management systems. Employees in the public sector play a pivotal role and can potentially act as catalysts, provided they are trained on the various facets and dimensions governing knowledge management at their respective companies. This chapter further recommends designing a training strategy that will facilitate decision-makers in public sector entities to overcome employee resistance by educating them in leveraging knowledge management as a strategic tool for achieving organizational goals. Recommendations are also made for government entities to help provide impetus towards ensuring effective implementation of knowledge management practices in the context of public sector enterprises.