The Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) has undertaken a knowledge management project aimed at, among other things, helping government harness the "information society" and create employment.
The HSRC says in its latest annual report that its knowledge management research programme, established in March, is the newest addition to its range of activities.
The programme aims to conduct research and develop strategies in three main areas: government and the knowledge economy; National System of Innovation studies; and the HSRC as an innovative research organisation.
It says the key users of the work will be government, especially the presidency and the departments of arts, culture, science and technology, Statistics SA, public service and administration, education, trade and industry and communications.
The work is expected to enable government to harness the "information society", promote effectiveness and efficiency, attain greater competitiveness and create employment.
The programme is already active in all three of its areas. In its research on government and the knowledge economy it is collaborating with the Presidential Commission, building on research the HSRC conducted last year on information for corporate decision-making.
It will be extended under a forum for South African directors-general mandate to examine how information is managed and used across government.
"As new technologies sweep into operation it becomes even more necessary constantly to avoid duplication and the hoarding of data and information," the report says.
"The additional requirements of the Promotion of Access to Information Act also motivate organisations to organise their information in a more coherent fashion. The collateral benefit of such coherence is that it offers the potential to unlock value that is latent in such information.
"As government becomes increasingly 'online`, new legislation will become a necessity for control and to enable secure information flows. The HSRC will be a key resource in this conversation."
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