Abstract
The Peace Corps has over 7,800 volunteers serving in 70 countries. These volunteers bring a broad array of skills and experiences to their posts and they acquire valuable additional knowledge on the jobβknowledge that is often lost when a volunteer retires after the customary two years of service. While the Peace Corps is aware of the value of this knowledge and attempts to create conditions in which it can be shared, a case study conducted by one of the authors found that there currently is no formal strategy to manage the flow of information and knowledge between different members of the organization. This is unfortunate since the ability to effectively capture and share information and knowledge could significantly ease the jobs of volunteers, increase their productivity, and improve morale. We develop a framework for knowledge management in a volunteer organization such as the Peace Corps where quick personnel turnover hampers traditional approaches to knowledge management. We articulate a set of computer and nonβcomputerβbased mechanisms in terms of procedures, policies, and IT tools to capture, share and transform data and information into usable knowledge. We conclude by proposing a knowledge management system based on these prescriptions that could be used in the Peace Corps or other similar, largely volunteer, organizations with a rapid turnover of personnel.
Disclaimer: The Peace Corps had no connection with this project. The views in this report reflect only the personal views of the authors, and do not in any way describe or reflect the official views or position of the Peace Corps. Copyright Β© 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.