Rocio Sanz

Senior knowledge management consultant, UNICEF and KM4Dev, Spain and Switzerland

Imagining a Sustainable Knowledge Society: Focus on Knowledge Retention

In a sustainable knowledge society, retaining and transferring knowledge across generations and sectors is essential. Reflecting Amadou Hampâté Bâ’s proverb, “In Africa, when an old man dies, a library burns,” highlights the irreplaceable value of human wisdom.

A sustainable knowledge society prioritises systematic knowledge retention, addressing the risks of high staff turnover and retirements. Recognizing knowledge loss impacts performance, and effective Knowledge Retention (KR) strategies are crucial.

1. Learning from the Past: Retaining knowledge prevents reinventing the wheel and allows us to learn from the past to create a better present and future.
2. Role of Human Resources: HR policies should focus on talent retention and career development, ensuring effective knowledge flows.
3. Intergenerational Transfer: Leveraging the experience of retiring Baby Boomers with incoming Millennials can accelerate learning and foster innovation.
4. Values and Social Dynamics: Knowledge flow is influenced by values, behaviors, and social interactions. Institutionalising ad-hoc practices is vital for resilient knowledge sharing.
5. Innovation and Adaptability: Organisations require a balancing of chaos and order for adaptability.
6. Ethical Considerations and AI: While AI supports KR, human oversight is essential for ethical decision-making, emphasizing reflective practices and human values.
7. Global Collaboration for SDGs: Establishing global KR systems supports the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Engaging academia, private sectors, governments, and civil society ensures a comprehensive approach.
8. Quick wins, proactive and dynamic practices for knowledge retention: podcasts, stretch assignments, on-the-job shadowing, etc, are among specific practices to transfer critical knowledge that go beyond handover reports
9. Diverse Practices and Measurement: Varied KM practices require a multifaceted approach. Measuring KM impact is challenging, necessitating adaptive KR strategies.

In conclusion, a sustainable knowledge society embeds KR practices from day one, adapting to changing needs, fostering innovation, and promoting global collaboration to build a resilient future.

Keywords: Knowledge retention, innovation, AI, ethical considerations, intergenerational transfer, Human Resources, values