Difference between revisions of "Knowledge Management and Transfer for Microenergy Systems – Crossing Borders Worldwide"
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=== Research Team & Partners === | === Research Team & Partners === | ||
<div>The research team included partners from the United Kingdom as well as India:</div> | <div>The research team included partners from the United Kingdom as well as India:</div> | ||
− | *<span class="Apple-tab-span | + | *<span style="white-space:pre" class="Apple-tab-span"></span>University of Dundee/De Montfort University<br/> |
− | *<span class="Apple-tab-span | + | *<span style="white-space:pre" class="Apple-tab-span"></span>School of Environment & Development, Manchester University<br/> |
− | *<span class="Apple-tab-span | + | *<span style="white-space:pre" class="Apple-tab-span"></span>Edinburgh Napier University<br/> |
− | *<span class="Apple-tab-span | + | *<span style="white-space:pre" class="Apple-tab-span"></span>The Energy and Resources Institute<br/> |
− | *<span class="Apple-tab-span | + | *<span style="white-space:pre" class="Apple-tab-span"></span>TERI University<br/> |
− | *<span class="Apple-tab-span | + | *<span style="white-space:pre" class="Apple-tab-span"></span>UK Research Council<br/> |
− | *<span class="Apple-tab-span | + | *<span style="white-space:pre" class="Apple-tab-span"></span>DFID<br/> |
<div><br/></div> | <div><br/></div> | ||
=== Research Objectives === | === Research Objectives === | ||
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== Challenges<br/> == | == Challenges<br/> == | ||
<div>For the GIZ, knowledge is the product and service provided and not material object as with a manufacturing firm. This includes the management and transfer of knowledge regarding what is and is not successful in the field. Accompanying this is the storage and sharing of knowledge collected. Up until recently, this was a major challenge as the expertise would often be out in the field or occupied and unavailable. However, with a new information management system that uses a wiki, access to documenting knowledge, reviewing, editing, and sharing is now available to anyone. Not only is there an opportunity for comprehensive collection and storage of information, the collaborative process allows for planning, and also management of info through areas that are restricted or open to public access. The challenge is incorporating the information management system into daily routines, and also facilitating the use of the tool for users who are not adept with technology.<br/></div><div><br/></div><div> | <div>For the GIZ, knowledge is the product and service provided and not material object as with a manufacturing firm. This includes the management and transfer of knowledge regarding what is and is not successful in the field. Accompanying this is the storage and sharing of knowledge collected. Up until recently, this was a major challenge as the expertise would often be out in the field or occupied and unavailable. However, with a new information management system that uses a wiki, access to documenting knowledge, reviewing, editing, and sharing is now available to anyone. Not only is there an opportunity for comprehensive collection and storage of information, the collaborative process allows for planning, and also management of info through areas that are restricted or open to public access. The challenge is incorporating the information management system into daily routines, and also facilitating the use of the tool for users who are not adept with technology.<br/></div><div><br/></div><div> | ||
+ | = Connecting Knowldege for a Sustainable Future = | ||
− | |||
Benjamin Rebenich, energypedia UG (haftungsbeschränkt) | Benjamin Rebenich, energypedia UG (haftungsbeschränkt) | ||
− | |||
On [[Main Page|energypedia.info]] everyone can create and revise articles on technologies, approaches and projects related to renewable energy and energy efficiency. Energypedia promotes knowledge and experience exchange to achieve universal access to sustainable energy for all people.<br/></div> | On [[Main Page|energypedia.info]] everyone can create and revise articles on technologies, approaches and projects related to renewable energy and energy efficiency. Energypedia promotes knowledge and experience exchange to achieve universal access to sustainable energy for all people.<br/></div> | ||
As a wiki (stands for a website designed to enable anyone who accesses it to easily contribute or modify content), it is open and free for everyone in the internet, but does not require any computer language.<br/> | As a wiki (stands for a website designed to enable anyone who accesses it to easily contribute or modify content), it is open and free for everyone in the internet, but does not require any computer language.<br/> | ||
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== Challenges & Opportunities<br/> == | == Challenges & Opportunities<br/> == | ||
<div>The project faces challenges in creating the right context and audience currently, which is key for a successful wiki. The success of the wiki highly depends on a strong audience with shared interests. Consequently, the organization is consistently working on measuring the success and impacts of its efforts by, for example, asking its users for feedback. In the current early stages of the project, the organizers are working hard on developing and ensuring standards, and are actively “wiki gardening.” On the side, the nonprofit organization is increasing its fundraising efforts in order to keep its independence. Additionally, energypedia is owner of a consultancy firm which will help to finance the free energypedia plattform in the future.</div><div><br/></div><div>The opportunities provided to this organization and project are many and varied at the moment. Accessibility is a key strength that allows for transparent, efficient, cross-border, and interdisciplinary information exchange. The ultimate success of the project will depend on the appropriate cultural, technological, and organizational conditions, in addition to attitudinal changes regarding information and technology. Currently, there are 12 to 15 other similar wikis worldwide, including an initiative at the University of Berkeley in California. What sets Energypedia apart from the others is that there are more social interactive features offered. In the long-term, managers of Energypedia foresee merging tendencies for the different wikis. There is, however, no foresight to linkages with other social media tools such Facebook.</div><div><br/></div><div></div> | <div>The project faces challenges in creating the right context and audience currently, which is key for a successful wiki. The success of the wiki highly depends on a strong audience with shared interests. Consequently, the organization is consistently working on measuring the success and impacts of its efforts by, for example, asking its users for feedback. In the current early stages of the project, the organizers are working hard on developing and ensuring standards, and are actively “wiki gardening.” On the side, the nonprofit organization is increasing its fundraising efforts in order to keep its independence. Additionally, energypedia is owner of a consultancy firm which will help to finance the free energypedia plattform in the future.</div><div><br/></div><div>The opportunities provided to this organization and project are many and varied at the moment. Accessibility is a key strength that allows for transparent, efficient, cross-border, and interdisciplinary information exchange. The ultimate success of the project will depend on the appropriate cultural, technological, and organizational conditions, in addition to attitudinal changes regarding information and technology. Currently, there are 12 to 15 other similar wikis worldwide, including an initiative at the University of Berkeley in California. What sets Energypedia apart from the others is that there are more social interactive features offered. In the long-term, managers of Energypedia foresee merging tendencies for the different wikis. There is, however, no foresight to linkages with other social media tools such Facebook.</div><div><br/></div><div></div> | ||
− | + | <br/> | |
= Challenges of Knowledge Exchange<br/> = | = Challenges of Knowledge Exchange<br/> = | ||
<div>Tools such as [[Main Page|energypedia.info]] will fill knowledge gaps. Even organizations such as TERI have similar sites that store information. Presenters predict future challenges in the merging of the different wikis, and the long-term maintenance of quality knowledge stored on the sites. Additionally, some current challenges may still resonate in the futures such as the attitude towards sharing knowledge. Particularly among private firms or project where there is a lot of investment into preparing and developing the knowledge and information, there is limited desire to make publicly what has been discovered. Some private companies may agree to sharing information with individual agreements as is already done so with GIZ. On the contrary, some private firms may share information, and also take advantage of the public site to advertise and promote.<br/></div><div></div><div>There are also pressures to publish in the academic community. Some presenters viewed this as an aspect requiring change. Other opinions shared illustrated the wiki as a new portal and publishing opportunity most attractive to students. In general, there was an agreement that wikis require more integration in not only the private sector but also the academic sector. Additionally, there is interest on making the wiki accessible in other languages than English, including French and Spanish. | <div>Tools such as [[Main Page|energypedia.info]] will fill knowledge gaps. Even organizations such as TERI have similar sites that store information. Presenters predict future challenges in the merging of the different wikis, and the long-term maintenance of quality knowledge stored on the sites. Additionally, some current challenges may still resonate in the futures such as the attitude towards sharing knowledge. Particularly among private firms or project where there is a lot of investment into preparing and developing the knowledge and information, there is limited desire to make publicly what has been discovered. Some private companies may agree to sharing information with individual agreements as is already done so with GIZ. On the contrary, some private firms may share information, and also take advantage of the public site to advertise and promote.<br/></div><div></div><div>There are also pressures to publish in the academic community. Some presenters viewed this as an aspect requiring change. Other opinions shared illustrated the wiki as a new portal and publishing opportunity most attractive to students. In general, there was an agreement that wikis require more integration in not only the private sector but also the academic sector. Additionally, there is interest on making the wiki accessible in other languages than English, including French and Spanish. | ||
− | + | <br/> | |
= Further Information<br/> = | = Further Information<br/> = | ||
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= References<br/> = | = References<br/> = | ||
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Documentation: Felix Leyva | Documentation: Felix Leyva | ||
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<references /><br/> | <references /><br/> | ||
+ | </div></div> | ||
+ | [[Category:Conference_Documentation]] | ||
[[Category:Knowledge_Management]] | [[Category:Knowledge_Management]] | ||
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Revision as of 12:03, 19 March 2013
Overview
During the management and transfer of knowledge between diverse groups, such as academics and practicitioners, the North and South, enterprises and investors, companies and clients, and even between diverse academic disciplines, one must find a means to understanding.
Multi-stakeholder interaction requires bridging communication borders with diverse methods and tools that either translate or determine common languages, and eventually turn theory into practice.
Challenges:
Like many other processes, knowledge management and transfer is plagued with a myriad of challenges including the lack of incentives, even knowledge and communication that are foundational to communication capacities. Other challenges ranges from competition for, and confidentiality of information shared. Lastly, there is always the challenge in discerning what information is most pertinent to whom.
Strategies:
In developing communication channels and tools, is the need for strategies. Understanding what and where the right forums are for knowledge management transfer can help agents differentiate between explicit and implicit knowledge. Strategies may also help motivate practitioners and academics to contribute to knowledge sharing.
Offgrid Access System in South Asia (OASYS)
Debajit Palit, The Energy & Resources Institute, New Delhi, India
Two multi-stakeholder projects are most relevant as they demonstrate micro energy systems that are closer linked to communities at a local level.
OASYS introduced business models for decentralized off-grid electricity generation in developing countries. OASYS started in 2009, with the motivation of researching technical aspects and general cost-effectiveness.
The research firstly discovered to main knowledge gaps:
- Lack of knowledge regarding Business Models and institutional arrangements for delivery
- Limited or lack of experience in project scale-up and project sustainability
As a result, two questions arose to explore criteria relevant to the aforementioned knowledge gaps:
- Are there cost-effective and reliable off-grid electricity supply solutions that can meet the present & future needs, are socially acceptable, institutionally viable and environmentally desirable?’
- Do these local solutions have the scaling-up and replication potentials and can these solutions be brought to the mainstream for wider electricity access in the developing world?”
Geographical Scope & Analysis Dimensions
Research Team & Partners
- University of Dundee/De Montfort University
- School of Environment & Development, Manchester University
- Edinburgh Napier University
- The Energy and Resources Institute
- TERI University
- UK Research Council
- DFID
Research Objectives
The Solar Transitions Project
Human Diversity as a Success Factor
Sub-Factors
- practical details and social organization of village scale power supply
- socio-economic impacts and people’s interests and demands
- implementation and management strategies, and lastly
- relevant support mechanisms and barriers at state and national levels.
Challenges of Knowledge Management
Energising Development (EnDev), Gunnar Wegner, GIZ
Successes and Barriers to Knowledge Management & Transfer
‘Wait, I have it somewhere in my mailbox’
‘The lightening-struck inverter’
‘EnDev’s next super failure’
Challenges
Connecting Knowldege for a Sustainable Future
Benjamin Rebenich, energypedia UG (haftungsbeschränkt)
On energypedia.info everyone can create and revise articles on technologies, approaches and projects related to renewable energy and energy efficiency. Energypedia promotes knowledge and experience exchange to achieve universal access to sustainable energy for all people.As a wiki (stands for a website designed to enable anyone who accesses it to easily contribute or modify content), it is open and free for everyone in the internet, but does not require any computer language.
Visions & Missions
Challenges & Opportunities
Challenges of Knowledge Exchange
Further Information
References
The article documents the proceedings of the session “Knowledge Management and Transfer for Microenergy Systems - Crossing Borders Worldwide" of the international conference “Micro Perspectives for Decentralized Energy Supply”, February 27 - March 1, 2013.
In cooperation with energypedia
Session facilitator: Jonas van der Straeten, Postgraduate Program Microenergy Systems, TU Berlin
Documentation: Robin Chang, Joint International Master in Sustainable Development, Universität Leipzig
Documentation: Felix Leyva