Scoping the Convergences of Knowledge, Technology, Community and Decision-making

The document outlines how various sectors—including the private sector, social sciences, and international development—are cross-fertilizing their approaches to knowledge and technology. It highlights a shift from simple information management to complex knowledge networks and multistakeholder governance, while noting paradoxes for citizens, such as the tension between virtual community access and physical isolation.

• Knowledge practices in international organizations are evolving through a 'cross fertilization' of private sector management, ICT innovations, and consultative international development approaches.
• The private sector is recognizing that effective knowledge management requires a combination of ICT tools and social management skills to engage with citizens and communities, driven by demands for accountability.
• International development is shifting from a model of technology transfer to one of knowledge transfer, emphasizing mutual capacity development and the recognition of capabilities in the global South.
• The rise of ICTs has created a paradox for citizens: while they have a greater ability to choose virtual communities of influence, they may experience increased isolation from their physical communities, impacting local democratic participation.
• New forms of governance are emerging through 'networked governance' and multistakeholder processes, which are transnational, trans-sectoral, and driven by the inclusion of all sectors in decision-making.
• The 'Google effect' is identified as a barrier for southern content providers, as high link density allows established sites to retain rankings, forcing newer providers to create niche content rather than overarching frameworks to gain visibility.
• There is an emerging shift in intellectual property (IPR) toward 'Open source' ideologies and collective ownership, with citizens demanding access to public goods such as generic drugs and music file sharing.

APA

Creech, H. (2004). Scoping the Convergences of Knowledge, Technology, Community and Decision-making. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/networks_scoping_convergences.pdf

Chicago

Creech, Heather. Scoping the Convergences of Knowledge, Technology, Community and Decision-making. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2004. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/networks_scoping_convergences.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Creech |first1=Heather |title=Scoping the Convergences of Knowledge, Technology, Community and Decision-making |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=2004 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/networks_scoping_convergences.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{creech2004scoping, author = {Creech, Heather}, title = {{Scoping the Convergences of Knowledge, Technology, Community and Decision-making}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2004}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/networks_scoping_convergences.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }