Mhamed Biygautane , Research Associate at the Dubai School of Government 25 -26 June 2013

1. UNITED NATIONS PUBLIC SERVICE FORUM WORKSHOP 7 Session: The Role of Leadership in Knowledge Management and government transformation LEADERSHIP FORTHE TRANSFORMATIONAL GOVERNMENT MhamedBiygautane, Research Associate at the Dubai School of Government 25 -26 June 2013 Bahrain

2. DSG Policy Briefs on KM LEADERSHIP FOR THE TRANSFORMATIONAL GOVERNMENT

3. Research methodology Knowledge Management practices in Dubai: Objective: To assesses the performance of KM programs in Dubai’s public sector by identifying drivers for and barriers to KM. Research methods: • First, semi-structured and in-depth interviews were conducted in several major entities, including Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), Dubai Courts, Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), Roads and Transportation Authority (RTA) and Dubai Police. • Second, a comprehensive survey tool was developed and administered to all government entities in Dubai, with a response rate of 66%, including those which had been previously interviewed.

4. Outline of the presentation • World’s shift to Knowledge Economy: Implications for GCC and UAE. • Importance of Knowledge Management in the transition to knowledge economy. • The importance of leadership for the success of knowledge management programs and government transformation. • Enabling factors for leaders to share knowledge

5. World’s shift to Knowledge Economy: Implications forGCC and UAE Knowledge economy or society means: • Productions and services are no longer based on natural sources or raw materials, yet on “limitless creativity” and talents of its people to produce economic value (World Economic Forum). • Reliance is more on intellectual capabilities and human capital rather than physical inputs. For the UAE to achieve its Strategic Plan of 2015, this requires empowering the national workforce and all the leaders by providing them with the necessary knowledge and skills.

6. World’s shift to Knowledge Economy: Implicationsfor GCC and UAE The ranks of GCC countries: • UAE and Bahrain pioneered in transferring their economies to knowledge-based compared to other Arab countries. • http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTUNIKAM/Resources/2012.pdf

7. World’s shift to Knowledge Economy: Implications for GCC and UAE Achievements of UAE so far and challenges ahead: • The World Economic Forum ranked the UAE as the 25th out of 139 countries in Global Competitiveness Index. • UAE was the only Arab country to be classified as “innovation driven economy”. • The implications of the financial crisis on the departure of skilled expats. • Importance of creating a mechanism to capture their knowledge and transfer it to the locals.

8. Importance of Knowledge Management in the transition to knowledge economy • GCC countries rely heavily on the knowledge and expertise of expats: UAE nearly 80%. • The departure of these skills risks creates a knowledge vacuum that is hard to fill. • Knowledge Management is an important mechanism that can transfer the knowledge of these expats to the national workforce. • However,

9. What is Knowledge Management? The American Productivity and Quality Center provides a comprehensive definition that integrates the elements of K.M process: “Knowledge Management is the systematic process of identifying, capturing, and transferring information and knowledge people can use to create, compete and improve” (APQC 2000)

10. What is Knowledge Management?

11. Explicit and Tacit forms of Knowledge Sources: (Bhatt 2001, Serban and Luan 2002, Cong and Pandya 2003)

12. Sources of Knowledge within Dubai’sPublic Sector

13. The importance of transformational leadership for the success of knowledge management programs • A growing body of literature proves that effective leadership is the main driver for the success of KM programs and the transition of knowledge to GCC nationals. • Few researchers address the link between information and knowledge management and transformational leadership. • Sharing knowledge needs to be encouraged, incentivized, inspired and facilitated. People do not easily share what they know especially in the Arab World.

14. Critical Factors Enabling the Success of Knowledge Management Managerial influence Leadership Coordination Control FinancialOrgt, culture Human Governmental Technological Social & economic Resource influences Environmental influen Source: Adapted from Holsapple and Joshi 2000

15. Role of Leadership for KM in Dubai’s Public sector

16. Incentives for sharing knowledge within the organization

17. Important factors for improvementof KM performance

18. Groups that resist KM

19. The importance of transformational leadership for the success of knowledge management programs • Educate 3rd and 4th line employees about the significance of knowledge management and knowledge sharing for the overall success of the transition to knowledge economy. • Applying models that are applicable to the culture and region of the Gulf. • Leaders should consider their sense of duty as the motivator and be empowered to share knowledge and learn from others.

20. The importance of transformational leadership for the success of knowledge management programs. Knowledge leaders in organizations need to: • Establish a culture that appreciates and respects knowledge sharing by organizing learning activities, conversation cafes, weekly informal meetings…etc. • Establish the necessary knowledge infrastructure (internal portals, social media sources, instant messaging facilities…etc, to allow employees to connect and share their knowledge. • Appoint knowledge champions and officers to facilitate the capturing, documenting and sharing of knowledge.

21. Thank you very much for listening!