دانلود رایگان مقاله انگلیسی مدیریت دانش برای ریشه کن کردن فقر: چشم انداز آفریقای جنوبی - امرالد 2018

Abstract

Purpose – This paper aims to explore poverty issues in South Africa, to investigate some of the key contributions that knowledge management can make in the eradication of poverty and to suggest a strategy of knowledge management for poverty eradication in South Africa. Design/methodology/approach – This is a conceptual paper. Secondary data sources, in the form of journal articles, policy documents, newspaper articles and the internet, were consulted. Findings – This paper contributes to the debates on moving towards an integrated poverty strategy that goes beyond reducing poverty by simply raising national income. The paper advocates for a contextualised knowledge management strategy tailored to specific poverty intervention projects and communities. It also suggests that a knowledge management strategy will result in permanent investment in knowledge and the human development of people. Research limitations/implications – Given that this is a conceptual paper, the paper recommends empirical future studies that will implement this strategy within specific poverty-stricken communities in the country. Practical/implications – The paper raises awareness among policy and decision-makers of the importance of knowledge management as a tool for poverty eradication. In the knowledge economy, knowledge assets – other than the tangible assets of financial capital and local infrastructure – are the prime creator of wealth. It adds to the body of knowledge on knowledge management for poverty eradication by the World Bank and other international organisations. Social implications – A knowledge management strategy will create an environment in which human development is attained and the minds of the poor are transformed. It will enhance policy formulation and implementation, empower the poor and create a learning organisation. Originality/value – The paper presents a proposed strategy for knowledge management for poverty eradication in South Africa.

Conclusion

This paper presents a strategy for poverty eradication in South Africa and argues that poverty eradication should be approached step-by-step by way of a project-specific community intervention in the current knowledge-based economy. It examines some of the key contributions that knowledge management can make in the eradication of poverty and suggests that knowledge management will result in permanent investment in knowledge and the human development of people. The paper recommends empirical future studies to implement this strategy among specific poverty-stricken communities and projects in the country. Given the strong connection between poverty and education and the poor quality of education in the country, it recommends that a starting point for the implementation of this strategy should be knowledge management and quality education. This paper contributes to the debates on moving towards a poverty strategy that goes beyond reducing poverty by simply raising national income, as the latter strategy has resulted in a vicious cycle of laziness and dependency by the poor. In the context of this paper, the adage “an investment in knowledge pays the best interest” may be changed to “an investment in knowledge reduces poverty”. Knowledge management for poverty eradication will create an environment in which human development is attained and the minds of the poor are transformed.