Knowledge Management
From PhilanthropyWiki
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Knowledge Management Definition
Knowledge management is a term relating to systems which enable the effective creation, sharing, storage and application of knowledge.
This may include both explicit knowledge (that which is easily accessible and clearly articulated to anyone who reads, sees or hears it) and tacit knowledge (that which is unwritten and not openly expressed, but is understood through a synthesis of experience, shared values, and cultural understandings).
Knowledge management is important to philanthropy because of the large quantities of knowledge which philanthropic foundations generate through their grantmaking work. It can be argued that sharing knowledge is directly related to the mission and aims of most charitable foundations:
- Sharing knowledge about a foundation-funded program can help others design more effective programs which will provide more benefit than the original program could
- Sharing knowledge about why a foundation-funded initiative did not succeed can assist others to not make the same mistake
- Learning from the knowledge of others in the sector enables a foundation to take advantage of other foundations’ learning, processes and strategies
- Knowledge sharing in the sector means that a foundation which wishes to promote a program or initiative is able to back up its claims of effectiveness and to attract more partners and co-funders
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