Replying to LO30041 --
Dear Organlearners,
Philip Keogh <Philip.Keogh@leedsth.nhs.uk> writes:
>BUT, overlying all of this I am becoming increasingly
>convinced that one cannot store knowledge. It cannot be
>stored on books, on computer systems, in manuals and
>standard operation procedures. For me, knowledge is
>dynamic and subject to constant change, and that change
>takes place within people. People are the key. Don't
>concentrate on the tools (...by all means use them) but
>concentrate on the people.
Greetings dear Philip,
Bravo!
Knowledge lives within a person while information exists outside the
person.
Pretoria has several universities. Most academics operate according to the
"information paradigm". The more they publish, the more power they get.
But some academics follow the "knowledge paradigm" which is somewhat
described by your conviction above. Gradually they develop a "knowledge
power" which makes them dangerous to those having "information power".
Unfortunately, they are usually unaware that they will have to face a
showdown in future with those having "information power". Since they do
not expect such a showdown, they are usually the losers when it comes. I
can tell several horror stories of such showdowns.
Here are two interesting questions.
(1) Which paradigm does a LO follow -- the "information paradigm"
or the "knowledge paradigm"?
(2) Can you explain your choice above?
With care and best wishes,
--At de Lange <amdelange@postino.up.ac.za> Snailmail: A M de Lange Gold Fields Computer Centre Faculty of Science - University of Pretoria Pretoria 0001 - Rep of South Africa
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