Reinventing Government Services Through Knowledge Management: Prospects In The Irrigation Services Sector

Abstract

The paper looks at the possibilities of improving quality of government services through knowledge management interventions. This is specifically studied in the case of the irrigation services, which are currently perceived to be lacking in several aspects of effectiveness. The paper initially tries to understand the concept of knowledge management from literature as applicable to government systems, based on which a framework for analysing knowledge management in the canal irrigation system have been developed. Through a study of the processes of large canal irrigation systems, the paper analyses the nature of knowledge and knowledge management systems that are essential for the effective functioning of the system. Using a framework based on the relationship between the users and repositories of knowledge, the nature of knowledge management requirements for a canal irrigation system are elaborated. The tentative findings are that in the case of government services, knowledge management can provide a basis for smooth interactions between the different stakeholders including the bureaucracy and the beneficiaries. The paper proposes that many of the current problems besieging large canal irrigation systems can be partly addressed through focused knowledge management initiatives and provides a roadmap for this process.