Knowledge Management for Development: Rethinking the Trends of Knowledge Management Research in South Africa

In the knowledge-based economy, there is a growing realisation among policy makers that knowledge assets, besides the tangible assets of financial capital and local infrastructure, are the prime creators of wealth. Given the developmental challenges facing South Africa and contemporary global societies, it is clear that Knowledge Management (KM) should not only be seen as a tool for organisational effectiveness, but also as a developmental strategy for nations and societies. As South Africa is developing policies and strategies to overcome its developmental challenges and also to remain competitive in the new global knowledge-based economy, the question that ought to be answered is: To what extend does research on KM address developmental issues in South Africa? This paper adopts a quantitative approach using bibliometric analysis to investigate the extent of research on KM on developmental targets in South Africa. A bibliometric study was conducted using four EBSCO-hosted databases to extract relevant data. It was noted that there has been continued growth in the number of KM publications in South Africa focusing on a variety of subject areas; limited researcher attention has been paid to KM for development (KM4D) and most of the research on KM4D addresses quality education and infrastructure, unemployment and economic growth. The study advocates for the need for academic institutions and research organisations to devote considerable attention to research that enhances the application and integration of the effectiveness of KM in South Africa's development as the country strives to achieve its development goals.