By Prof. Dr.
Khawaja Amjad Saeed
FCMA, FCA
Email: icmalhr@brain.net.pk,
emba@pgcnet.com,
kasaeed@brain.net.pk
Feb-04 - Feb-10, 2002
The 2000s and the beginning of 21st Century have
been witnessing the rise of knowledge management as a driving force to
change the landscape of thinking and consequently resulting in the
development of a new mindset. New dimensions of prosperity have
developed in the world. It is high time that we understand these
dimensions and get motivated for comprehending the same and move to
the path of prosperity on wider scale. New vistas will be identified.
Innovation will bring new heights of service to humanity and help
develop creative thinking. The current regime is popularly named as
Knowledge Based Economy (KBE).
Knowledge Management has several definitions.
Perhaps the best way to define it is to understand the process. This
consists of the following three parts:
Process of Knowledge Management
Acquire Manage Apply
The basic objective is to make a difference in the
obtaining conditions. Three levels of knowledge management include
national, organizational and individuals. Two accredited and well
accepted approaches to knowledge management include change mind set of
people and deliver better than the best. Target for knowledge
management is to create world class organizations in productivity and
standards.
Scope of knowledge management extends to high-tech,
agriculture and traditional jobs. The dominant focus is from
"Business as Usual" to "KBE".
Motivational Dimensions
S. No. Motivating Drives
1. Learn
2. Relearn
3. Unlearn
4. Learn again
KBE: Shifting paradigms
KBE is currently the driving force. However,
paradigm shifts have taken place in three dimensions. Firstly, earlier
growth was resource based namely, land, labor, capital and enterprise.
Now the growth is innovation driven. Earlier the emphasis of growth
was agriculture and later industry. Now the major thrust is
innovation. It is well known that in pharmaceuticals and internet
business, the results are being achieved at 70% through intellectual
property, knowledge and innovation. However, labor and other factors
are now accounting for 30%. Secondly, the theme of scarcity of
resources and diminishing returns are now moving to abundance of
knowledge and increasing returns. Earlier the richest people belonged
to oil wealthy class e.g. Sultan of Brunei, Saudi Shiekhs, Rockefeller
of USA etc. Now the richest classes of people belong to IT e.g. Bill
Gates ($46 billion: wealth in year 2000), Dell ($39 billion: wealth
year 2000), Bill Gates ($56 billion : wealth in year 2001, before
September 11, 2001 ) Importance of internet economy and knowledge
worker is being increasingly felt. Thirdly, earlier the emphasis was
to perfect the knowledge in stable environment. Now the shift is to
imperctly sizing the unknown in an era of rapid discontinuing change.
The product life cycles are getting shorter. Skill obsolescence can be
vividly seen and one is forced to keep ahead of change.
Change scenarios for countries and organizations
Scenarios in countries and organizations are
changing. Yesterday was different. Today is not as was yesterday. The
future will be significantly different.
|
Changing
Scenarios for Countries & Organizations |
|
Yesterday |
Today |
Tomorrow |
|
Quality Control |
Quality
Management |
Innovation &
Quality |
|
Incremental
improvement |
Continuous
Improvement |
Breakthrough
improvement |
|
Cost Reduction |
Cost Management |
Value Creation |
|
Use of Data |
Use of
Information |
Use of Knowledge |
|
QCs at Rank and
File Level |
QCs Across
Departments |
IQCs Across
Organizations |
|
Committed
Workforce |
Quality
Workforce |
World-class
Workforce |
|
Training for
Employment |
Training for
Development |
Training for
Employability |
|
Problem -
Solving Mindset |
Quality Mindset |
Innovation
Mindset |
Knowledge base
Self-investment in knowledge management is the
crying need. Generation of new and innovative knowledge needs to be
institutionalized in organizations and at national level. However,
significant factors governing development of knowledge base in an
enterprise level include: information of industry and technology,
company's mission statement, goals and plans, company policies and
practices covering well known seven functional management areas
namely, procurement, production, personnel, marketing, finance,
research and development (innovation) and information. Important
aspects of knowledge base include company culture, the personality of
key organization members and important suppliers and customers.
Conclusion
It is high time that the critical importance of
knowledge management is properly understood. Steps at all levels,
already identified earlier are undertaken through an institutionalized
approach. Developing countries will then have an opportunity to
compete with developed countries. Prosperity will dawn in a bigger
manner to be later shared in a wider spectrum. KBE will usher in a new
era for countries and the objectives for which enterprises are
established will be accomplished in a befitting manner for the
stakeholders to be the real beneficiaries. Indeed this is possible.
Commitment and dedicated efforts are the crying need of the hour.
*Dean: Executive Programs,
The Punjab College of Business Administration (PCBA), Constituent
College of Mohammad Ali Jinnah University, Lahore. Former Pro
Vice-Chancellor and Founder Director, Institute of Business
Administration, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.
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