KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT IN GOVERNMENT

ORGANIZATIONS AND PROGRAMMES

Government organization should definitely learn the attitude towards knowledge
and knowledge management from their counterparts in private sectors . However it
is equally important to note that government should draw the appropriate
conclusion of knowledge management not by simply seeking to “copy” the private
sectors, but by endeavoring to innovate in accordance with their own identity and
specificity and in accordance with their own way of managing government
operations . After all government organizations have their unique characteristics and
incomparable resources and responsibilities in the endeavors of promoting
knowledge management and building the “knowledge society” compared with
private organizations.
 MAJOR DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS
It has been said that public and private management are “Alike in all unimportant
respects”. While when it comes to important aspects who are actually quite
different from each other.
Business is primarily concerned with making a profit . while public is more concerned
with delivering services or regulating individuals or group behavior in the public
interest.
CHARACTERISTICS OF GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS
 AMBIGUITY- the purpose and scope of the government organizations can be wide
spread and reaching to many.
 PLURALISTIC DECISION MAKING- in government decision settings , there are many
parties and opinions that has to be considered before making final decisions.as
opposed to a business that can often make decisions quickly.
 VISIBILITY- The management team in public organizations often face more visibility
and scrutiny than their counterparts of private sector business.high visibility and
scrutiny can have their uses, such as getting a message to the public quickly
however sometimes it can also be negative because every mistake a public
manager makes will be recorded and consequently makes his/her later decisions
to certain degrees ,concerns some about his/her self-interest instead of
maximization of public interest.
PUBLIC MANAGEMENT TEAMS ALSO FACES;
 highly political environment.
 Possible interest conflict among different levels of government.
 No direct control over resources.
 Rigid compensation system and limited ability to use intrinsic rewards.
 Higher level or public expectation and legal requirements for openness honesty
and
 Less discretion and flexibility for decision making.
 PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT VS. PRIVATE KM

The different characteristics between private and public organization suggest that
knowledge management in these two sectors should also be different.
 SCOPE- the scope or knowledge management within government organizations
would be much broader compared with the private ones . for most private
organizations they normally operate in one main industry and produce one major
of line product, however ,the line of government works relates almost every
aspects of social lives and every citizen is the ultimate customer of government.
 PURPOSE- other than having effectiveness and efficiency improve as one purposes
of knowledge management in government, unlike private organizations
government organization should not just limit their knowledge management to
such extents. Knowledge essentially is public good.
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN KM AND E-GOVERNMENT
 FUNCTIONS OF KM IN THE GOVERNMENT

 PROMOTING A KNOWLEDGE BASED ECONOMY

 RENDERING INFORMATION AND SERVICES TO CITIZENS AND BUSINESS CUSTOMER
 ENHANCING GOVERNMENTAL COOPERATION.

“GOVERNMENT KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMNT OBJECTIVES”