Knowledge principles for government

The National Archives of the United Kingdom has produced a set of Knowledge Principles for Government, as a companion to Information Principles that were previously published.

The principles are based on a definitions of information and knowledge that are arguably quite basic compared to current models, but these clear and concise understandings are likely to be helpful in engaging and motivating government agencies to take action.

The Knowledge Principles for Government are:

1. Knowledge is a valued asset. Knowledge is an asset which is fundamental to the efficient and effective delivery of public services.
2. Knowledge needs the right environment in order to thrive. In order for knowledge to thrive it requires appropriate behaviours and cultures, fostered and adopted by leaders and individuals alike.
3. Knowledge is captured where necessary and possible. Capturing of knowledge turns that which is held tacitly in the heads of members of staff into explicit, recorded knowledge.
4. Knowledge is freely sought and shared. Knowledge is an asset that develops from the intellectual activity of individuals — which can be brought together to form Organisational Knowledge.
5. Knowledge increases in value through re-use. The value of knowledge can be multiplied by re-use.
6. Knowledge underpins individual learning. Knowledge is the cornerstone of learning, both classroom and workplace based.
7. Knowledge underpins organisational learning. Organisational learning in this context is the ability of the organisation to benefit from the collective knowledge of its individuals.

The principles build into a hierarchy with the core principle at the bottom, as shown in the diagram above. Detailed information about the principles can be found in the Knowledge Principles for Government document.

Originally published at RealKM.