NKC-7: Designate a CKO in each Ministry/Department at the Centre and in the States

NKC-7: India's National Knowledge Commission-7: Designate a Chief Knowledge Officer (CKO) in each Ministry/Department at the Centre and in the States

Irrespective of when and how India’s knowledge commission commences its work (I have so far not come across any public announcement in this regard), a chief knowledge officer (CKO), not below the rank of a joint secretary, should be designated in each ministry/department at the centre. A joint secretary (JS) in a ministry or department at the centre is a member of the senior management group (SMG) of the ministry/department and typically heads a division or two. In certain ministries, for example, in Ministry of Agriculture and in Ministry of Industry, there is a post of Joint Secretary (Policy Planning). This officer can very appropriately be designated as chief knowledge officer (CKO) in addition to his own duties.

Each ministry/department at the centre also has an administrative reforms (AR) division or section. Such administrative reforms (AR) division or section should also be placed under the charge of the chief knowledge officer (CKO). Similarly, the information technology (IT) division or section should also be placed under the charge of the chief knowledge officer (CKO). Likewise the National Informatics Centre (NIC) staff in the ministries/departments at the centre should also report to the chief knowledge officer (CKO) for making use of the nationwide information and communication technology (ICT) network called NICNET.

Similarly, an officer not below the rank of commissioner (equivalent in rank to a joint secretary at the centre) should be designated as chief knowledge officer (CKO) in the states. Again, note that no suggestion is being made to “create” a new post (which would further add to administrative cost). On the other hand, it is suggested to designate an existing officer as a chief knowledge officer (CKO) in addition to his existing work. But who should be designated as a chief knowledge officer (CKO) in states?

Each state by now has a secretary (information technology) (IT). His job is to assist in information technology (IT) policy formulation and implementation and to promote introduction of egovernance. Often, and very rightly too, the department of administrative reforms is also placed under his charge so that a holistic, instead of fragmentary, view of egovernance could be taken. Also, an important domain of the public sector knowledge management (PSKM) is egovernance, which has been accepted worldwide as an instrument of change and transformation. Ideally, therefore, secretary (information technology) in the states should be designated as chief knowledge officer (CKO) in the states. The state informatics officer (SIO) of the National Informatics Centre (NIC) should also report to the state chief knowledge officer (CKO).

What should be the function of state chief knowledge officers (CKOs)? First, they should act as contact points/liaison officers for the newly constituted knowledge commission. Secondly, they should identify knowledge requirements of various departments and their subordinate organisations. Thirdly, they should launch pilot “knowledge projects” with high “pay offs,” replicability and scalability, and demonstration value. Fourthly, they should generally promote the concept of “knowledge capital” as an instrument of accelerated social and economic development. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, the chief knowledge officer (CKO) should capture, codify and exploit knowledge within the state governments for greater public good.

Dr D.C.Misra
July 8, 2005