In the contemporary world, organizational knowledge has advanced remarkably and
its growth is at un-preceded levels. And this means largely, that employees in such
organizations cannot advance as fast without putting in consideration this education as well
as the development of knowledge. And therefore, to cope with the heightened trends in the
twenty first century, knowledge management ought to be given its pride of place. The current
society is constituted in a way that production, employability and utilizing knowledge are the
indicators that show the extent at which an institution is advancing and therefore, its potential
in achieving its worthiness and excellence. This has led to organizational transformations as
they are moving towards educated organizations, knowledge organization and the
empowerment of the administration. These concepts are not anymore considered to be
academic concepts, but rather seen as managerial practices in institutions that want to
develop, renovate and strive for excellence (Abdel Wahab, 2006).
These concepts of knowledge, cognitive management and the empowerment of the
administration are new in the faculty of educational management science, a place in which
interest has been developing over the past. This has led to the rise of many other practices
related to these concepts, which are varied depending on the specialization of the researchers
and their views as well. Many of these concepts are yet to be released since they are in the
last stages of development and exploration. The application of this concept of knowledge
management has gone wide in providing new abilities and people are now developing distinct
areas of competition. It provides capabilities in information technology as well as information
management and provides it with an accurate system for practice and management of varied
occupations. It also consists of an integrative and complimentary section of management
philosophy, ideas, ethos and trends in managing and practising its works (Al-Qatarneh,
2006).
KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND EXCELLENCE PROGRAMS 3
As if there was an interest in the cognitive gap by the specialized developmental
organizations and the international commissions, that brought about a separation between the
first world and the third world countries. Research had clearly demonstrated that the wide
populations of these nations and organizations, suffered from cognitive poverty. The studies
shown that the core cause of weakness of the inter-nation investments and the severest
hindrance that face sustainable and comprehensive development in such countries are poverty
and drought (Honsel & Bell, 2001).
In my own examination, I think that knowledge management is considered very
significant by varied organizations today, in fact, it has become a more acceptable entrance in
the academics and administration. It is as well significant in treating problems in an
organization, enabling good leadership, and as well managers can qualify their workers to be
knowledgeable and as well help in giving distinctions between whatever they know and shat
they apply. This concept of knowledge management was as well supported extensively by
research centres, international consultations and expert houses, after a study that shown
positive results by many institutions and organizations which has adopted them prior.
Knowledge management included, as mentioned by Aswad and Ghaziri (2004).
Because of the significance of knowledge in tertiary educational institutions, its
importance in management arose. The management of knowledge is given representation in
the methodology to position the process of knowledge and ensure its efficiency. It is the
pathway to creation of an added value through the merging or compositing among its
procedures, so as to realize the cognitive synthesis, higher than the their situation currently,
for instance, information or data, through initiating a launch of intellectual capabilities of
employees of the Ministry of Higher Education and Science Research, at all levels. Which is
to enhance and develop the necessary requirements to deal with the variables and heighten
documentation of the crisis that change, and antedate them before they happen. And this will
KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND EXCELLENCE PROGRAMS 4
make the Ministry ready to face them and work towards availing growth and development in
the best possible way (Laudon & Laudon, 2007).
The concept of empowerment first came up in the late 80s and enjoyed popularity and
adoption in organizations in the 90s. And this led to increased focus on human factor in the
institutions of education of varied types. It is a concept that was crystalized because of
development of the modernity in administrative thoughts. There were also administrative
changes bringing about excellence in the institutions at that time. Such were motivated by
application of new concepts, and also developing transformations, like adoption of an
educated organization, organization of knowledge and empowerment of administration hence
resulting to excellence (Abdel Wahab, 2006).
According to Mgbeke (2007) the adoption of knowledge management as a strategy is a
basic factor of enhancing competition in an organization and increasing its efficiency in the
business environment. It is as well in order to look forward to knowledge management
especially in the domain of empowerment. The results of the studies therefore, demonstrated
that, the efforts of both academics and administrators brought about the development of the
modern input for human resource management, that is to say, the empowerment of workers
and administration in the institutions of education for the purpose of putting into practise
knowledge management process.
The management of knowledge in an organization is very significant in this century.
Competition today is taking a different shift as companies are now battling on the grounds of
skills and not tangible assets as it were, and yet again, the rate of innovations in varied
organizations is overwhelming, and this has gone a long way in even strengthening the
competition. The intellect is now the considered the mother of everything in an organization
as it is the core factor that creates the difference giving competition advantage with traders,
KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND EXCELLENCE PROGRAMS 5
creation of competencies uniquely, and of cause giving booming results. And with the
introduction of technology, knowledge in an organization has brought developments that are
indescribable. In fact, the more romantic business people refer to it as technological intellect,
and it forms the big and desirable quality in a business today. Therefore, for a business to
compete substantially and succeed in the market place, then knowledge management is one
key factor that will dictate the results. Ultimately, organizations that have embraced
knowledge management as well as the empowerment of leaders are on their way towards
success if they have not succeeded already.
KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND EXCELLENCE PROGRAMS 6
References
Al-Qatarneh, Z. (2006). Extent of the availability of the knowledge management functions,
and their impact on the managers' effectiveness in the Jordanian
Ministries. Unpublished Master thesis, Mu'ta University, Al-Karak-Jordan.
Abdel Wahab, S. (2000). Human Resources Management", Cairo, University of Cairo,
Faculty of Economics and Political Sciences, Dar Ghareeb for Publishing and
Distribution.
Awad, E. and Ghaziri, H. (2004). Knowledge Management. Prentice Hall, NY Upper Saddle River.
Laudon, K.C, & Lauden, J. P. (2007). Essentials & Management Information Systems,
Prentice Hall Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey.
Mgbeke, D. M. (2007). Employee empowerment as a tool to increase administrative efficacy
in the local government area of Umumneochi, Nigeria, Doctoral dissertation, Walden
University.