Infrastructural Opportunities for KM

The Malaysian Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) provides a high speed backbone between the new international airport KLIA, and the centre of KL, the Petronas Twin Towers. This backbone is centred on Cyberjaya, where flagship company status is awarded to leading ICT and Research based companies. The Multimedia Development Corporation which administers the MSC, provides a regular forum on KM issues and invites KM specialists to regular presentations attended by staff from the flagship companies. Web based learning and training can be seen as a major thrust of KM in Malaysia, growing Intellectual Capital both within organisations and in society as a whole.

Infrastructural initiatives to enable this include:

The Malaysian Grid for Learning (MyGfL) Spearheaded by the National Information Technology Council (NITC), the primary advisor and consultant to the Malaysian Government on ICT in Malaysia’s national development. Proposed March 1999, by NITC e-Learning Working Group, it was soft launched by the Ministry of Human Resource in September 2002. MyGfL aims to promote life long learning through the use of ICT, by integration of world and indigenous knowledge for the benefit of the general public.

Malaysian e-University Feasibility Study

The Min. Higher Education commissioned a Feasibility Study for the establishment of a high level of online interaction between the public universities (IPTAs) and the Ministry in the areas of e-Learning content development and delivery, research and e-governance. The Final Report of this study will be delivered in December 2004.

MYREN

The Malaysia Research and Education Network (MYREN) as part of the pan Asia- Europe high speed dedicated network for academic research and education. This will be launched in December 2004, and at present most public and private universities have subscribed.

Organisations promoting KM in Malaysia

The following are some of the organizations actively promoting KM in Malaysia.

Knowledge Management Centre, Multimedia University
Motorola University
Multimedia Development Corporation Sdn. Bhd.
Bank Negara Malaysia (Human Resource Development Centre)
National Information Technology Council (NITC)
MIMOS
Knowledge Management Association

Organisations promoting KM through e-Learning in Malaysia

National Steering Committee for e-Learning
National e-Learning Consultative Council
National e-Learning Centre (under development)
Min Higher Education
Public University ICT Council
Individual Universities -Centre of Excellence for e –Learning (Multimedia University)
-Content and Instructional Design Standard research (Open University Malaysia, Multimedia University, UNITAR and others.)

Factors affecting take up of KM in Malaysia

KM is getting more serious attention not just by MNCs, local large corporations and Utility companies in Malaysia (such as Petronas, Telekom, TNB.), but also from the Government – especially through the ‘k-economy’ agenda (all ministries are at some point in the process of implementing KM). Small and Medium size Enterprises are beginning to become aware of the need to have KM strategy.

In the past two years, there has been growing interest in knowledge management, as evidenced by the large attendance at national conferences and seminars. Knowledge Management concepts have become more widely accepted and understood. Today, even SMEs are talking about knowledge management (though few are adopting knowledge management principles). In addition, higher education institutions, for instance, Multimedia University, Monash University (Malaysia), have introduced post graduate courses in knowledge management.

Most large organisations now have knowledge managers (though some are pretty lonely figures). The banking sector is becoming more involved if only because of the programme of enforced mergers between local banks and the close relationship between KM and Risk management.

Cultural/social aspects specific to KM in Malaysia.

- people are getting more and more comfortable with ICT
- Government commitment (8th Malaysia Plan – central component)
- Rapid growth of electronic and related industries.
- Easy purchase of PCs for general public through released funds from compulsory national saving scheme.

- Media Presentation - Media does a good job in publicising the concept of ‘knowledge’ society, and knowledge management itself, but frequently perceives it as one of IT tools available in the market. This is of course encouraged by advertising for “ KM solutions in the box”. Local newspapers frequently carry complex technical articles that would not be found in mass circulation papers in England for instance.

Major newspaper in Malaysia – the New Straits Times, Computimes (Malaysia), Malaysian Business and Bernama have published many articles on knowledge management from time to time Factors that hinder;

- The culture of ‘wait-and-see’ (research evidence of intentions)
- Many Malaysian companies like to rely on the Government (request for funding, implementation grants, free training etc.)

The future for KM in Malaysia

Postscript

This paper has tried to give a flavour of KM as it stands today in Malaysia. As stated earlier there is a certain reluctance to major investment by SMEs and this is probably wise. Malaysian businesses are pretty level headed and unlikely to invest in solutions as a whim. The major changes many organisations are facing is the need for “bespoke” staff training via ICT (we have moved beyond the 24/7 stupidity!). This invariably means a realignment of HR thinking and clearly a considered KM plan is essential. One area not being so actively addressed is the social and cultural changes that KM both needs and activates. The presentation will give a review of one such aspect – the physical Knowledge Space.

 Dr. Peter Charles Woods
Professor of Knowledge Management,
Head, Knowledge Management Post Graduate Centre,
Chairman, Centre of Excellence for e –Learning,
Faculty of Creative Multimedia,
Multimedia University
63100 Cyberjaya, Selangor
Malaysia
Email: p.woods@mmu.edu.my