Digital technologies for information and knowledge management

Abstract

Technologies play a pivotal role in the management of information and knowledge. They leverage the creation, collection, processing, storage, sharing and perpetuation of individual, community or organisational knowledge. Technologies provide a set of transformative functionalities which enhance the knowledge management processes. These functionalities support communication, coordination, analysis, presentation and diffusion of knowledge cost-effectively, conveniently, interactively and promptly. This book is part of the discourse on how best to apply the increasingly ubiquitous digital technologies and media to manage information and knowledge in a way which enhances the effective identification, documentation, popularisation and application of strategic knowledge in the society. The chapters have been contributed by scholars from diverse contexts thereby creating a rich mash-up of perspectives. The book presents pertinent discussions on digital technologies and media which are applied to manage information and knowledge in this era. The chapters are structured into eight (8) broad categories. The categories include Digital Libraries and Information Repositories; Citizen Media and Technologies; Big Data Systems; Learning Media and Technologies; Internet of Things and Emerging Technologies; Technology and Information Ethics; Management of Electronic Records; as well as Information and Knowledge Organisation. All the chapters in this book have been subjected to an elaborate quality assurance process to leverage their contribution to the existing literature on information and knowledge management. As such, both the abstracts and full papers were subjected to double-blind peer review and professional copy editing. I am convinced that information and knowledge management scholars, students and practitioners will find valuable nuggets in the chapters and will use the same for theory development; policy formulation and implementation; and in their professional practice. This book is a direct product of the 2nd International Conference on Information and Knowledge Management which was held on 21-14 August 2018 in Nairobi, Kenya. It would not have been possible to publish it without the support of the conference organisers, participants, and sponsors. We particularly acknowledge the support of Prof. Dr.-Ing. Francis W.O. Aduol, the Vice-Chancellor of the Technical University of Kenya, who opened the event and also shared tips on the future of information and knowledge management as a scholarly discipline. On behalf of the organising committee and the three hosting institutions, I wish you an insightful reading of the chapters.