The role of digitisation in knowledge and content management

The value gained from the preservation of human knowledge lies not with the preservation of the past but rather with the way in which this information can be accessed by individuals today. The management of knowledge through the use of Knowledge Management systems plays an important role in the preservation of such human knowledge. Through the implementation of digitisation as an essential Knowledge Management tool, organisations can achieve not only the preservation of human knowledge but also provide adequate access to this knowledge. This research aimed at highlighting the importance of digitisation within an archive, for Knowledge Management purposes, through the use of content management systems. A secondary goal for this research was discussing the importance of access to and preservation of collections through digitisation. The role of content management for the achievement of enhanced access and preservation to knowledge, was also explored. Both semi-structured as well as non-standardised interviews were conducted within a small South African archive institute. Purposive sampling was the chosen sampling technique for this research, as the sample size was small and respondents were selected based on their expertise in the field being researched. Four individuals were interviewed as the heritage museum only employs a limited number of individuals and consults externally for technical issues. The data collected through these interviews was analysed and presented in a narrative manner. Based on the study's findings, digitisation was recommended as an important process of knowledge management systems within the small archival institution. It was through digitisation that this organisation was aiming to achieve the preservation of their collections; the organisation's attempts at providing support for access to these digitised, centralised collections, were also revealed. An important finding to note was the discovery that there were substantial costs and legal barriers that hindered the implementation of digitisation processes within the sample population.