Knowledge Management for Program Improvement: Evaluation of the San Diego County Office of Education's Knowledge Management Systems

Torie Gorges, Linda Shear

Knowledge management is a strategy that is increasingly making its mark in the business world, but its integration into systems of education is taking place more slowly (Fullan, 2002). Many businesses see their knowledge management systems as enabling them to work in rapidly changing information environments and bring cross-functional expertise to bear on a wide range of essential challenges (see, for example, Buckman, 2004). Translation to an educational environment, however, brings a new set of contextual and cultural factors. This evaluation looks at the potential impact of KM for PI school management, and examines the relevance of the KM literature from business. The San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) is one of the early leaders of knowledge management in education, with one knowledge management system, the Standards Management System (SMS), first released in 2003 and another, the Program Improvement Management System (PIMS), piloted in 2007. These two systems, and PIMS in particular, are the subject of this study.

Reserach questions for the study are as follows:

  1. How do knowledge management systems support both knowledge sharing and knowledge construction? What do these functions mean in practice for educational leaders and coaches in school reform?
  2. What is the value of the PIMS tools and related processes for knowledge construction and capacity development among the county staff responsible for supporting program improvement planning and implementation?
  3. What is the value of the PIMS tools and related processes for knowledge construction and capacity development among district leaders and school program improvement teams?

This qualitative study uses interviews and focus groups as its primary data sources. Additionally, it includes a literature review of knowledge management in education and business, and identifies “essential elements” of knowledge management systems.

Buckman, R. (2004). Building a knowledge-driven organization. New York: McGraw-Hill.

Fullan, M. (2002). The role of leadership in the promotion of knowledge management in schools. Teachers and Teaching: Theory and Practice, 8(3), 409 -419.

Funders & Clients 

California County Superintendents Educational Services Association (CCSESA)
California Department of Education
San Diego County Office of Education
WestEd

Publications

Research Areas

Evaluation

Keywords 

knowledge management
program improvement
standards-based education