Session: The Role of Leadership in Knowledge Management and government transformation LEADERSHIP FOR THE TRANSFORMATIONAL GOVERNMENT Mhamed Biygautane,

Session: The Role of Leadership in Knowledge Management and government transformation

LEADERSHIP FORTHE TRANSFORMATIONAL GOVERNMENT

Mhamed Biygautane, Research Associate at the Dubai School of Government

25 -26 June 2013Bahrain

UNITED NATIONS PUBLIC SERVICE FORUM WORKSHOP 7

DSG Policy Briefs on KM

LEADERSHIP FOR THE TRANSFORMATIONAL GOVERNMENT


Research methodology

Knowledge Management practices in Dubai:Objective: To assesses the performance of KM programs in Dubai’s public sector by identifying drivers for and barriers to KM.Research methods:• First, semi-structured and in-depth interviews were conducted in

several major entities, including Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), Dubai Courts, Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), Roads and Transportation Authority (RTA) and Dubai Police.

• Second, a comprehensive survey tool was developed and administered to all government entities in Dubai, with a response rate of 66%, including those which had been previously interviewed.


Outline of the presentation1. World’s shift to Knowledge Economy:

Implications for GCC and UAE.2. Importance of Knowledge Management in the

transition to knowledge economy.3. The importance of leadership for the success of

knowledge management programs and government transformation.

4. Enabling factors for leaders to share knowledge


World’s shift to Knowledge Economy: Implications forGCC and UAE

Knowledge economy or society means:• Productions and services are no longer based on natural

sources or raw materials, yet on “limitless creativity” and talents of its people to produce economic value (World Economic Forum).

• Reliance is more on intellectual capabilities and human capital rather than physical inputs.

For the UAE to achieve its Strategic Plan of 2015, this requires empowering the national workforce and all the leaders by providing them with the necessary knowledge and skills.


World’s shift to Knowledge Economy: Implicationsfor GCC and UAE

The ranks of GCC countries:• UAE and Bahrain pioneered in transferring their economies to

knowledge-based compared to other Arab countries.

• http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTUNIKAM/Resources/2012.pdf

http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTUNIKAM/Resources/2012.pdf


World’s shift to Knowledge Economy: Implications for GCC and UAE

Achievements of UAE so far and challenges ahead:• The World Economic Forum ranked the UAE as the

25th out of 139 countries in Global Competitiveness Index.

• UAE was the only Arab country to be classified as “innovation driven economy”.

• The implications of the financial crisis on the departure of skilled expats.

• Importance of creating a mechanism to capture their knowledge and transfer it to the locals.


Importance of Knowledge Management in the transition to knowledge economy

• GCC countries rely heavily on the knowledge and expertise of expats: UAE nearly 80%.

• The departure of these skills risks creates a knowledge vacuum that is hard to fill.

• Knowledge Management is an important mechanism that can transfer the knowledge of these expats to the national workforce.

• However,


What is Knowledge Management?

The American Productivity and Quality Center provides a comprehensive definition that integrates the elements of K.M process: “Knowledge Management is the systematic process of identifying, capturing, and transferring information and knowledge people can use to create, compete and improve” (APQC 2000)


What is Knowledge Management?

Decision Making (planning for action)

Knowledge (information combined with judgment)

Information (data put into context)

Data (raw facts and numbers)


Explicit and Tacit forms of Knowledge

Explicit knowledge(Documented)

Tacit knowledge(Not documented)

Characteristics

-Easily captured and codified-Well documented-Easily communicated and shared.-Formal and systematic-Accessible

-Highly personal-Non verbalized and Unspoken knowledge-Difficult to capture and share-Intuitive and unarticulated-Topic specific

Sources-Instruction manuals-Written procedures and books-Data bases and reports-Research findings-Best practices

-Informal face to face meetings and discussions-Personal experiences-Telephone conversations-Emails

Sources: (Bhatt 2001, Serban and Luan 2002, Cong and Pandya 2003)


Sources of Knowledge within Dubai’sPublic Sector

Individual expertise

Knowledge centered in senior leadership

Documents, guidelines and databases

Documented knowledge by staff

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%

Strongly disagree

Disagree

Neither ag or disagree

Agree

Strongly agree


The importance of transformational leadership for the success of knowledge management programs

• A growing body of literature proves that effective leadership is the main driver for the success of KM programs and the transition of knowledge to GCC nationals.

• Few researchers address the link between information and knowledge management and transformational leadership.

• Sharing knowledge needs to be encouraged, incentivized, inspired and facilitated. People do not easily share what they know especially in the Arab World.


Critical Factors Enabling the Success of Knowledge Management

Managerial influence

LeadershipCoordination Control

Financial Orgt, cultureHuman Governmental

Technological Social & economic

Resource influences Environmental influen

Source: Adapted from Holsapple and Joshi 2000


Role of Leadership for KM in Dubai’s Public sector

Yes No, planned in next 3 years No0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

34% 19%47%

33%

14%

53%

21%

18% 62%

Central unit for K.M Chief K.M officer Knowledge champions


Incentives for sharing knowledge within the organization

No incentives

Monetary incentives

DGEP

Sharing knowledge is not a criterion for assesing performance

0.390000000000001

0.25

0.34

0.650000000000003


Important factors for improvementof KM performance

Very important

Important

Somewhat important

Not important at all

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

Allocation of sufficient funds

Rewards system for sharing knowledge

involvement of the staff

High priority by top management


Groups that resist KM

Senior staff

Mid management

Officers

Administrators

I.T division

Strategy division

Perfrmnce mangt division

H.R division

Accounting/finance

25%

31%

30%

30%

18%

9%

11%

9%

14%


The importance of transformational leadership for the success of knowledge management programs

• Educate 3rd and 4th line employees about the significance of knowledge management and knowledge sharing for the overall success of the transition to knowledge economy.

• Applying models that are applicable to the culture and region of the Gulf.

• Leaders should consider their sense of duty as the motivator and be empowered to share knowledge and learn from others.


The importance of transformational leadership for the success of knowledge management programs.

Knowledge leaders in organizations need to:• Establish a culture that appreciates and respects

knowledge sharing by organizing learning activities, conversation cafes, weekly informal meetings…etc.

• Establish the necessary knowledge infrastructure (internal portals, social media sources, instant messaging facilities…etc, to allow employees to connect and share their knowledge.

• Appoint knowledge champions and officers to facilitate the capturing, documenting and sharing of knowledge.


Thank you very much for listening!

Session: The Role of Leadership in Knowledge Management and government transformation LEADERSHIP FOR THE TRANSFORMATIONAL GOVERNMENT Mhamed Biygautane,

Documents

knowledge slide

transition of knowledge

knowledge people

knowledge vacuum

necessary knowledge

knowledge needs

uae knowledge economy

action knowledge information