Knowledge Management (KM), Indigenous Knowledge, Regional Development and Knowledge Centers: A Review of Key Issues

Abstract

The article discusses the trends underlying the increasing importance of knowledge management for businesses and public sector today. The elucidation of the meaning of KM, components of the knowledge process and comprehensive knowledge programs, is accorded sufficient handling for the benefit of the initiated and novice alike. Drivers of KM ranging from external, internal and to those bearing ongoing characterizes, are also discussed along with factors inducing organizations, private and public, profit oriented and not for profit, to develop KM programs are exhaustively tackled too. The centerpiece of the article being an exploration of the implementation of KM in education, regional government, and in harnessing indigenous knowledge to achieve sustainable development, the article accords sufficient treatment to the use of KM principles as well as implementing KM programs by educational centers of excellence (we prefer to call them knowledge centers), regional and central governments in improving product and service quality and variety, thereby making such institutions identify what it is they can do best, determine such as core businesses, excel in that thereby developing unique difficult to emulate capabilities. However, we do not forget to inform the reader/audience of the formidable challenges ahead, which is why challenges KM program encounter are presented. Challenges are by no means bogeys to committed quality performers, hence should serve as pointers of the right direction and thrust , an effective and sustainable KM Program should take and contain.