Public sector knowledge management : alignment of the policy framework to the departmental knowledge purpose, processes and context

[摘要] ENGLISH SUMMARY : The thesis advocates a contingency approach for the alignment of knowledge managementframeworks in the public sector to the knowledge purpose, processes and context of respective government departments. The thesis is specifically focused on the adoption andimplementation of knowledge management in the South African public service.The study uses Newell, et al.'s (2009) theoretical framework about alignment in knowledge management and Cruywagen, et al.'s (2008a, 2010b) contingency framework as a basis for evaluating the South African government's Draft DPSA KM strategy. This is done by describing Newell's argument about dimensions of knowledge work, outlining its applicability to the public service sector, and demonstrating its usefulness by describing two South African government departments in terms of their KM alignment. Thereafter, SouthAfrican government's Draft DPSA KM strategy framework is described and interpreted to show that it subscribes to a universalistic approach to knowledge management. A comparisonwith three international knowledge management frameworks demonstrates that other countries (in this case the USA, UK and Canada) follow a contingency approach where government departments draft their own knowledge management frameworks in line with their unique anddistinctive characteristics. Finally, recommendations are made to the Department of Public Service and Administration for improving the implementation and institutionalising knowledge management in South African public sector organizations based on a contingency approach that will allow better alignment between knowledge purpose, processes and context.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University