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(KSA 5) Water-Centred
Knowledge
Scope
The culture of knowledge management forms the basis of the WRC mission
and is the focus of the WRC vision, that of becoming a true knowledge
hub. This key strategic area (KSA) continues to strive to meet this
objective by focusing on the development and protection of internal and
external knowledge resources. The knowledge resources are both explicit,
documented knowledge and tacit (subjective) knowledge. Management of
knowledge in the WRC will therefore entail all the processes associated
with the identification, sharing and creation of knowledge. This will
require systems for the creation and maintenance of knowledge
repositories, and for the support of the cultivation and facilitation of
the sharing of knowledge and organisational learning. Internally, for
the WRC to succeed in knowledge management, it has to view knowledge as
an asset and to develop organisational norms and values, which support
the creation, and sharing of knowledge, both internally as well as
externally.
This KSA will continue to develop knowledge management capabilities, in
terms of technology and fundamental business processes in order to
contribute to the effectiveness of the WRC. The recent focus has been on
the basic building blocks necessary to support the knowledge management
objective of the WRC. The development and improvement of the Fund
Management System (FMS) is one of these building blocks.
The KSA also strives to package information in a format that is
understood by a broader audience including our major stakeholders. The
development of technical and management project briefing notes is an
example of a new innovative knowledge dissemination tool which was
implemented over the past year.
Driven by external needs, the WRC continues to strive to improve its
position as the dynamic hub for water-centred knowledge, innovation, and
intellectual capital in South Africa, Africa and the developing world.
The WRC continuously strives to strengthen its position in Africa and
abroad.
Therefore, this KSA will focus on deriving value from its intangible
assets, e.g. full utilisation of information systems to manage data,
information and knowledge; full utilisation of a system that tracks who
is using our knowledge products (technical reports); increasing the
circulation of our publications; improving document and information
management internally; and the management and/or administration of
research projects.
Video Clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18WiCvkCiaU
Objectives
The broad objectives include:
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To provide a strategic support function to the
WRC as a whole and ensure effective knowledge management internally
and externally
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To actively support the water sector in its
strategic knowledge dissemination initiatives
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To manage the WRC-related intellectual property,
media relationship and public relations/communication.
Internally focused objectives:
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To enhance the core processes of research
support and management
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To improve access to relevant information
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To support the emergence of the culture of
knowledge management
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To develop and maintain consistent data
architecture to enable the flow of content through an FMS to support
the core business of the organisation
To support innovation and commercialisation through proper
management and protection of the WRC’s intellectual property
portfolio.
Externally focused objectives:
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To participate and lead knowledge-dissemination
initiatives including sharing and networking supported by
functional, user-friendly research and water information systems
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To build and strengthen knowledge links with
Africa and globally
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To continuously improve knowledge transfer and
dissemination through feedback from users, dissemination of reports,
guides, scientific and popular-scientific journals, and by providing
support to other technology- transfer initiatives
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To develop state-of-the-art communications
systems, to enable quick, meaningful contact between the WRC and the
water sector / stakeholders
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To continuously develop better and more
efficient knowledge dissemination tools and channels, especially to
DWAF and Local Government
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To promote the WRC by engaging with all
stakeholders and customers, either directly or through the media,
and providing them with information about the WRC's activities,
products and accomplishments
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