Enhancing the Colombian Public Sector Performance: A Systemic Knowledge Management Strategy Based on ISO 30401 and the IPMM

Abstract

Knowledge management (KM) is recognized as being vital for organizational competitiveness and sustainability for both private and public organizations. A great myriad of theories, frameworks, and tools have been developed, many of which have been developed with private organizations in mind, given their dependence on maintaining competitiveness in the market for their survival. However, the stakes for public organizations could be considered greater, as their decisions and actions affect a wide range of stakeholders, and their management, in general, faces important challenges, such as the high turnover of their employees. For this reason, numerous efforts have been made to improve the way knowledge is managed in public institutions, yet its effective implementation in public entities remains a challenge. In Latin America, one of the countries where explicit efforts have been made to foster KM in public institutions is Colombia. The country has developed an Integrated Planning and Management Model (IPMM), which includes a specific mandate for KM implementation in all the public institutions of the country. Although the IPMM includes this KM mandate, Colombian public entities have been facing several difficulties in achieving the KM implementation. In fact, KM adoption has been slow and its impact limited, signalling the need for systemic solutions. This research employs a systemic approach, grounded in the ISO 30401 standard and a comprehensive literature analysis, to develop a KM implementation strategy tailored to the IPMM. The proposed strategy, emphasizing strategic, human, and operational factors, positions KM as the central organizing principle of the IPMM and, at the same time, is aligned with ISO 30401 guidelines. This integration aims to ease the implementation of KM within a KM system that leads to enhancing the performance of public entities in Colombia. Although being developed for Colombian public entities, the proposed strategy offers valuable insights for public administrations globally seeking to leverage KM for strategic advantage to better fulfil their mandates for the benefit of society as a whole.