The effectiveness of knowledge management in the public sector

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper looks at the effectiveness of knowledge management through a novel taxonomic lens. It utilises qualitative data obtained from a detailed literature review on public sector KM. While research has indicated that KM in the public sector is relatively under researched compared with its private sector counterpart, there has been a substantive body of research into public sector KM, and various scientometric analyses have been conducted into public sector KM dynamics. Most of this is concentrated around health, education, and government intervention. There has been comparatively little research into specific public sector attributes. This study describes these attributes and illustrates how they are reflected in the literature, thereby underpinning each with academic relevance. This paper will benefit KM scholars who wish to study the public sector. Highlighting the effectiveness of KM in the public sector will help utilise knowledge for efficiency and service delivery improvement.