Identifying knowledge management processes and practices used for decision-making and knowledge sharing in the modern San community

Abstract

First People, such as the San community of Platfontein, are the holders of rich and complex knowledge systems that are very important for dispute resolution and decision- making. In order to ensure that these knowledge systems are maintained and sustained for future generations to benefit from, it is important to introduce and implement new approaches that can help to make intergenerational transmission of this valuable knowledge possible for the younger generation of San. While this community possesses a vast amount of unique knowledge, skills and competencies, these are at risk as the older generation of the San is ageing and passing on with very little of their knowledge and skills ever being transmitted to younger generations or documented and preserved for future generations to consult. Furthermore, the new generation of the San, which is referred to the modern San, are becoming more Westernised and are slowly losing their traditional culture and values. Hence, this study focuses on Knowledge Management processes and practices that are used in the modern San community for decision-making and knowledge sharing.

Keywords

• knowledge management
• knowledge sharing
• indigenous knowledge
• decision-making
• knowledge
• San community
• Platfontein