INFORMATION AS STRATEGIC ECONOMIC RESOURCE

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INFORMATION AS STRATEGIC ECONOMIC RESOURCE

• ROLE OF LIBRARIANS OTHER INFORMATION
  PROFESSIONALS
• By Kingo Mchombu
• Department of Information Communication Studies
  - University of Namibia

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INFORMATION KNOWLEDGE PYRAMID

• Conceptual relationship (data, information and
  knowledge) interdependent layers
• Data processed to information value added to
  knowledge
• Knowledge as a human construct
• Knowledge divisible to tacit and explicit domains
  equal value of both
• Tacit experience, insights, creativity and
  lateral thinking (Nonaka 1998)

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• Managing human resources to give employees
  incentives to develop capacities and intelligence
  (Stiglitz 1999)
• Information sciences find it difficult to
  manage/control knowledge (Vagan 2004)
• Data management more suited to computer centres

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Information as an economic resource

• The 4 sector approach vis the ICT approach
• Porat (1977) information economy
• -agriculture, industry, services addition of
  information sector as new sector
• Information sector information as the primary
  product
• OECD ICT approach ICT dominated
• Information society

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• Economic activity of labour force in computer
  related activities
• Economic output - of computer industry
  contribution to GDP
• Technology infrastructure in the computer
  industry
• Technology innovation IT and computing as of
  total manufacturing
• Technology diffusion how IT has diffused in
  society expenditure GDP

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• Heavy doze of ideology globalization, free flow
  of information, information market place,
  deregulation, and privatization(Dick 2002)
• Information society as IT driven process the
  ICT trap (Vaagan 2001)
• BP Shell case study in knowledge management
  absence of IT control to show that the project
  is about communication, business change, and
  corporate behaviour change, not technology for
  its own sake

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• The 2nd approach to info society as progression
  from agrarian, industrial and information society
  (Bell 1973, Drucker 1993)
• Measures transition by classification of economic
  sectors i) primary sector ii)secondary sector
  iii)tertiary sector
• Can Africa transform from agrarian economy to
  information society? (Alhassan 2004)
• Change to an information society an incremental
  process (Drucker and Bell)
• Tony Blair no new economy but transformation
  through use of information technology (Internet)

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Bridging the knowledge deficit in Africa

• World Bank Development Report of 1998 knowledge
  for development knowledge the most important
  factor in development
• Knowledge gap/deficit between poor and rich
  nations despite of vast knowledge resources
  worldwide
• Access to the Internet 75 USA/Europe vis 1.2
  Africa (Whyte 2000)
• Most Libraries handle print info how to convert
  information to knowledge challenge
• Outdated collections due to financial constraints

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• Addressing the info deficit in Africa? Crucial
  challenge for libraries agrarian societies?
• Acquire knowledge produced elsewhere to avoid
  reinventing the wheel
• Create knowledge locally through RD,
  organization knowledge creation, and IK
• Build capacity of the population and firms to
  absorb and apply knowledge innovations
• Create capacity to communicate knowledge through
  libraries, telecomms, mass media, extension
  services
• Role of government is critical in the whole
  process of addressing the information and
  knowledge gap/deficit
• NEPAD and AU
• Problems of handling indigenous knowledge and
  tacit knowledge

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Innovation and knowledge production

• Knowledge production vital for building a
  knowledge economy
• How much of GDP is invested in knowledge
  production? 2-5? (now less 0.01)
• Tacit vis explicit knowledge production
• Indigenous knowledge production
• Access to global knowledge resources
  protectionism commercial product or public
  good?
• Who owns the knowledge economy information
  feudalism? (Drahos and Braithwaite 2002)
• The African Renaissance when Africa was the
  leading world producer of knowledge? (Mbeki 2002)
  Timbaktu
• Can Africans think? Problems of knowledge
  dependency? (Mkandawire and Saludo 1999)

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Role of libraries in economic development

• Repositioning of libraries and info. centres to
  be at the centre of knowledge management from
  storehouse to source of business intelligence
  (Orna 1999)
• Traditional library links with education,
  recreation and the elite but not business and
  economic development needs
• Decision makers act without adequate info in
  competitive environment so they cant compete
  globally
• Singapore library 2000 report business and
  economic needs of Singapore
• Need for a business library, and right info at
  the right time gives competitive edge

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• Librarians must survey business and economic
  development information needs
• Singapore information needs for business and
  economic development include
• Information on economic, political, and operating
  environment, market reports, industry surveys,
  reports of study missions, embassy business
  intelligence reports (economic diplomacy)
  Mkandawire and Saludo 1999)
• Target groups include SMEs, informal sector,
  agribusiness, and entrepreneurs, economic dev
  planners
• Studies should include business and economic info
  use behaviour patterns for designing relevant
  info. centres

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• Practical examples of what libraries can do
• Presentations to business groups on business
  information services, business knowledge literacy
• Facilities to hold meetings and networking
• Access to Internet, fax, and other facilities
• Training on how to use Internet and business
  information sources
• Set up specialized business and economic dev
  library and info. centres
• Production and distribution of information
  materials on business and innovation to
  facilitate diffusion of innovations in society

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• Public lectures on business and economic dev
  topics/themes
• Provide training to library staff on business
  info skills and new attitudes
• Researching business and economic user needs and
  IK
• Establish NEPAD focal points for business
  information

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Conclusion and Recommendations

• Transition to an information society should be
  knowledge driven not ICT driven process role of
  libraries pivotal
• Innovation and production of knowledge need to be
  stepped up if Africa is to be part of the
  knowledge revolution role of libraries critical
• Better ways of managing and harnessing both tacit
  knowledge and Ik need to be devised
• Access to the Internet and its use for commercial
  purposes is essential for Africa to bridge the
  knowledge deficit libraries essential for low
  cost access strategies

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Conclusions (cont)

• Specifically we recommend
• Pilot projects setting up business and economic
  development libraries in Africa
• Researching Needs Baseline studies to collect
  data on business and economic dev information
  needs and use, use of the Internet and ICT, use
  of mass media to disseminate business information
  and local content on business and economic
  development
• Retraining of information workers on provision of
  business and economic intelligence, knowledge
  management, and digitization of information.