|
Knowledge Management Seminar at ESCAP
 |
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) in cooperation with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), held a Seminar on Knowledge Management on 4 February 2005. |
UNESCAP hopes its knowledge management program will allow community partners to use its research, knowledge and expertise to further the shared goals of reducing poverty in the Asia Pacific region.
The aim of the seminar was to introduce the motivation for and concept of knowledge management.
“I want to optimize the utilization and value of knowledge that abounds in the secretariat,” said the Executive Secretary of UNESCAP Mr. Kim Hak-Su. “I want UNESCAP to become a knowledge-based organization. And I want to use that knowledge to attain our three-pronged goal of managing globalization, reducing poverty, and addressing emerging social issues,” he added.
The seminar was attended by Mr. Geert van der Linden, Vice President, Knowledge Management and Sustainable Development, ADB and staff from the ADB, the UN Development Program (UNDP) and UNESCAP. The ADB initiated its own knowledge management system in 2002.
“Knowledge management can succeed only if there are cultural and behavioral changes in the organization,” he explained. He said that UNE SCAP staff must overcome personal, short term reluctance to share knowledge in order to create a transparent and knowledge sharing organization.
“Knowledge management entails first and foremost the sharing of personal knowledge. Put bluntly, it requires employees to surrender their knowledge and experience,” he said.
Mr. Kim put forward the American Productivity and Quality Council’s framework as the recommended road map for knowledge management implementation, with appropriate adaptation to the unique needs of the UNESCAP secretariat.
For further information on ESCAP Knowledge Management Program, please visit http://www.unescap.org/oes/km.asp or send an email to: kmescap@un.org
|
