Troppi cani? Ci vuole piu' KM!

Dechen is looking for solutions to deal with the growing number of
stray dogs population in Thimphu, a concern of almost all residents
of the capital.

Since this is an issue close to her heart and could also have
religious implications, she wanted to avoid mistakes that the early-
starters would have made. Further, since more heads means more ideas,
she wanted to share the query with the right set of people. How could
she do that? Knowledge Management Partnership (KMP) could be the answer.
KMP is about sharing knowledge and experience through an internet-
mediated forum. It connects people sharing similar concerns and
interests towards the common objective of problem-solving instead of
reinventing the wheel.
KMP is an internet-mediated forum using an "e-consultation" format.
Communities of Practice (topics of discussion) can be selected based
on people's interest and of national development concern.
Each community is guided by a group of eminent persons working in
that sphere. Members to the community can come from different sectors
- government, non governmental organisations, development partners,
private sectors and academia.
So, when you put your query in an e-mail the moderator posts it to
all community members who will offer advices, experiences and
contacts and in about 5-10 days, the moderator will post a synopsis
of responses to the mailgroup (called a Consolidated Reply). These
contributions and additional resources can be made available on the
website.
A similar initiative in the UN office in India last year resulted in
the government changing its compulsory HIV/AIDS testing before
marriage in one of the states.
Many would argue that KMP may not be effective in Bhutan because of
inaccessibility of technology in rural areas. However, KMP could be
tailor made to suit the current IT status of Bhutan. It could be
adapted using existing facilities such as the national radio to reach
remote Bhutan.
Knowledge management's potential can be gauged by reflecting on the
various levels of society. To an organisation, KMP helps enhance the
delivery, relevance and effectiveness of their work and advisory
services; to a thematic community, it allows for the development of a
common language and understanding of thematic issues and for an
individual, it helps to do their jobs better, build bonds with peers
and keep up to date.
In this fast developing world, where people find it difficult to find
time to meet and discuss issues physically, perhaps, KMP can be a
solution.
Contributed by Sunita Giri