Launch of Knowledge Management Hub

The much-anticipated launch of the Department of Local Government (DLG) Knowledge Management Hub took place on 20 November 2023. The DLG directorates were well represented at the event. The Director: District and Local Performance Monitoring, Mr Nabeel Rylands, kicked off the launch and welcomed all.

Mr Rylands did a presentation in which he highlighted a few key aspects pertaining to Knowledge Management (KM). He explained that KM was linked to strategic outcome 3 within the DLG’s five year (2020‐2025) strategic plan, whereby the Department aims to achieve a “Data and Knowledge Management Hub that informs decision making, planning and budget allocation within local government”. Furthermore, the main aim of establishing KM in the DLG is the preservation of its institutional memory and enabling an evidence-based decision-making approach.

Building collaborative environments where employees are willing to participate and proactively create, share, use and manage information and knowledge within the DLG is critical to the success of Knowledge Management Hubs. Minister Anton Bredell, HOD Graham Paulse and other senior managers have already given the go-ahead and are completely onboard with the concept of the KM hub as a shared space to create, collaborate and communicate information within the DLG. 

Mr Jaen Hess, the information specialist responsible for setting up the KM hub, performed a live demonstration of the KM hub in which he highlighted specific features and functions within the site.

This was followed by an introduction to the KM committee and the champions for the Directorate Knowledge Management who are tasked with promoting and managing information from their directorates into the KM hub.  

The lively Questions and Answers session at the end of the event was very satisfying. Spot prizes were handed out amid the excitement of the staff.   

The hype is expected to continue, as the site will be closely monitored within the next few months and prizes will be awarded to the directorates and individuals who frequently utilize the site.