Application of Competitive Intelligence in Indigenous Knowledge: The Role of the Library Professionals in Nigeria
Keywords:
Culture, Sustainable Development, Knowledge Management, Indigenous Knowledge, Competitive IntelligenceAbstract
This study examines how competitive intelligence can be strategically deployed to ensure better and effective access to indigenous knowledge. The knowledge gap hypothesis provides the theoretical framework for this study. The aim is primarily to evaluate the role of the library professionals in brokering a situation where the acquisition, creation, organization accessibility and dissemination of indigenous knowledge have competitive advantage over the western knowledge which is presently favoured. The study reveals that indigenous knowledge is often the basis for decision making at the local level in all areas of human endeavour including agriculture, health care, education, food preparation, natural resource management, psycho social care and other activities that are germane to rural communities. Therefore, information professionals must work with indigenous communities to develop unique solutions that meet local needs.
Also, Library professionals must ensure that adequate policies are put in place
for local communities to be adequately recompensed as prior owners of their
knowledge.
References
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Civallero, E. (2005). The sound library: sound documents and collections as a means of recovering and protecting endangered languages. E-LIS. Retrieved on 11th April 2014 from http://eprints.rclis.org/archieve/00004372.
Cobern, W. W. and Loving, C. C. (2001). Defining science in a multicultural world: implications for science education. Science Education, 85, 50 – 67.
Collence, T. C. (2011). Role of libraries in promoting the dissemination and documentation of indigenous agricultural information : case study of Zimbabwe. Retrieved on 11th April, 2014 from http://conference.ifla.org/ifla77.
Adam, L. (2007). Information and communication technologies, knowledge management and indigenous knowledge: implications to livelihood of communities in Ethiopia. Retrieved on 16th April, 2014 from http://www.eictda.gov.et.
Agrawal, A. C. (1995). Dismantling the divide between indigenous and Western knowledge. Development and Change, 26 (3), 413 – 439
Battiste, M. and Henderson, J.Y. (2000).Protecting indigenous knowledge and heritage: A global challenge. Saskatoon: Purich, p. 42.
Boven, K. and Morohashi, J. (2002). Best practices using indigenous knowledge. The Hague and Paris: Nuffic and UNESCO/MOST. Retrieved on 17th April, 2014 from http://www.unesco.org/most/BpiKpub2.pdf.
Burtis, A. (2009). Managing indigenous and traditional cultural expressions: is technology the solution? Retrieved on 14th April, 2014 from http://libr.org/isc/issues/ISC29/articles/3%20%Managing%20Indigenous%20Knowledge.pdf.
Christie, M. (2004).Computer databases and Aboriginal knowledge.Learning communities: International Journal of Learning in Social Contexts. Retrieved on 14th April 2014 from http:/www.cdu.edu.au/centres/ik/pdf/CompDatAbknow.pdf.
Civallero, E. (2005). The sound library: sound documents and collections as a means of recovering and protecting endangered languages. E-LIS. Retrieved on 11th April 2014 from http://eprints.rclis.org/archieve/00004372.
Cobern, W. W. and Loving, C. C. (2001). Defining science in a multicultural world: implications for science education. Science Education, 85, 50 – 67.
Collence, T. C. (2011). Role of libraries in promoting the dissemination and documentation of indigenous agricultural information : case study of Zimbabwe. Retrieved on 11th April, 2014 from http://conference.ifla.org/ifla77.
