Knowledge ShareFair: Why?
The Share Fair presents a unique opportunity and novel approach to find out directly from the staff involved, and exchange views with them, on how Bioversity International, the CGIAR ICT-KM programme, FAO, IFAD and WFP have applied new methods of communication and knowledge sharing to improve the effectiveness and impact of their work. It will also feature examples of activities at the country level and those making use of local and indigenous knowledge as appropriate.
Sharing information and knowledge through formal publications and corporate web sites has been a principal activity of the Rome-based organizations for many years. However, this only represents institutional knowledge which has been expressed in written form. The accumulated personal expertise, experience and practical knowledge of staff within an organization remains largely confined to themselves and the circle of people with whom they interact. Moreover, the current institutional culture has perhaps not always facilitated the sharing of personal knowledge within and between organizations. In many cases there is a common need to provide staff with the enabling environment to freely and openly exchange ideas, best practices and lessons learned in ways that foster and nurture networking, reciprocal trust and cooperation.
The Share Fair can therefore be seen as a concrete response to that need. It underscores the key role of knowledge sharing and collaboration between the Rome-based agencies. During this innovative event, the FAO Atrium will become a vibrant, interactive and collaborative workspace, a kind of “play area” for learning. Online demonstrations will be made at attractive stalls. There will be coached and facilitated sessions for people to learn how others have creatively used knowledge sharing techniques to improve the effectiveness and quality of their work, and participants will be able to assess how they themselves can apply similar approaches in their own areas of work. Some decentralized offices will be involved via web-conferencing, extending the event beyond the confines of Rome to countries that have perhaps the greatest need for knowledge and information.
In addition to Rome-based collegues many from CGIAR centers around the world will join us in this Fair. Stay tuned to hear from them what they are learning….
6 Responses to “Knowledge ShareFair: Why?”
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Enrica Porcari
The CGIAR's first Chief Information Officer is hosted by Bioversity International in Rome, Italy.
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Just a small comment: besides Bioversity international and CGIAR ICT-KM program,many other CGIAR centers will present their information management and knowledge sharing activities as well.
Petr, you are correct in pointing out that many CGIAR centers and colleagues will participate in this event. It is exciting to see that more than 20 projects and activities of CGIAR centers will be showcased in the Fair. What was meant is that Bioversity and the ICT-KM program are in this case part of the organizing committee.
“Knowledge Fair – Why?” –
Well, because *I* will give a presentation there. That’s why!
))
“In many cases there is a common need to provide staff with the enabling environment to freely and openly exchange ideas, best practices and lessons learned in ways that foster and nurture networking, reciprocal trust and cooperation.”
To me providing this enabling environment is the most difficult task in organizations such as CGIAR Institutes and the FAO.
This requires a committed top management who looks at restructuring and change in the organization from the perspective of how its information and knowledge flows within, across and outside the organization and how to change it for the better, not as creating new “boxes” in the organization chart and reporting relations.
I am yet to see documented evidence of the top management of organizations involved in organizing of this fair and undergoing change that they consider creating an enabling environment as described above.
I look forward to the deliberations on this aspect of knowledge mobilization, sharing and exchange and knowing the fair’s impact on the enabling of organizations’ environments.
Hi guys,
Nice to hear that there will be so many presentations! Please keep the rest of us (that could not be there) posted about the outcomes and interesting stuff.
Have good week!
Alexandra
Hi Alexandra,
watch out the Internet for this tag: Sharefair09. We have many social reporters contributing on this blog but also on channels set up by FAO specifically for the Fair.
We miss you