Knowledge management in the public sector: principles and practices in police work

Many organizations in the private or public sectors in Singapore have started to realize the importance of knowledge management in streamlining their operations. This realization stems from the fact that Singapore, as a small country with no natural resources, has to rely on human capital and its people in positioning itself for the new economy. Many organizations in the public sector are knowledge-intensive organizations and poor knowledge management practices might lead to high costs as a result of lost institutional memory, knowledge gaps and poor decisions. This paper discusses the implementation of knowledge management principles and practices in police work and their implications for policing. With the increased adoption of information technology and the increasing overall quality and IT competence of its police officers, the police organization is well positioned to leverage knowledge management principles and practices to better equip its officers with the necessary knowledge to discharge their duties.