Managing sustainability knowledge in the Canadian mining industry

Waad K Ali

doi:10.32920/ryerson.14657625.v1

Abstract

This study was undertaken in order to identify and discuss KM techniques that are used to manage sustainability knowledge in the Canadian Mining Industry. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 sustainability executives in the Canadian mining industry. The findings show that few mining firms are reaping the full benefits of knowledge management in terms of codifying tacit knowledge, providing employees with the necessary resources to contribute to the organization's knowledge, retaining project knowledge, establishing KM roles and a KM strategy and monitoring the success of KM. The difficulties of managing sustainability knowledge as expressed by the firms interviewed in this study can be overcome by effective implementation of knowledge management. Effective implementation of knowledge management will need to be governed by top management commitment and the ability of the organization to make changes in strategic programs and adopting the necessary behaviors that facilitate KM.

Highlights

Introduction to knowledge managementSince the early 1990’s interest in knowledge management have been fueled by accelerating rates of technological and market change that have resulted in innovation and learning becoming more and more important for the success of businesses (Grant, 2013)
The findings revealed that indigenous knowledge (IK) is mainly tacit in nature, so physical communication is imperative in enabling the creation and sharing of knowledge: this is why the externalization and combination stages of the SECI model was partially fulfilled
Description of component: Action to be undertaken within scope of the project

Summary

Introduction

Introduction to knowledge managementSince the early 1990’s interest in knowledge management have been fueled by accelerating rates of technological and market change that have resulted in innovation and learning becoming more and more important for the success of businesses (Grant, 2013). About two-thirds (10 firms) replied with “yes.” (See Figure 21) Most of these companies’ senior sustainability executives offered explicit recognition of the importance of knowledge management within their corporate management system as a whole. The growing concerns regarding issues of environmental sustainability—the onset of global warming, the need to safeguard our planet's ecological support systems, the need to reduce energy/resource use, and the overall maintenance of functional societies—comprise many of the challenges faced by the business world and in the future (Siebenhüner and Arnold, 2007) These challenges will have a material impact on the way companies think and act presently, with one eye on the future (BCG, 2009). Companies that act aggressively to pursue their sustainability initiatives in earnest tend to unearth opportunities to create new revenue streams, reduce costs, and develop more innovative business models (BCG, 2009)

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