Proposing A Knowledge Management System (KMS) Architecture for Traditional Medicine
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Date
2015-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Background: Traditional medicine knowledge is a medical knowledge developed by indigenous
cultures that incorporates plant, animal and mineral-based medicines, and manual techniques
designed to treat illness or maintain well being. The provisions of this service depend on
managing its knowledge properly. Knowledge management is a process that deals with
knowledge creation, storage, dissemination and application to improve the overall business
performance. A knowledge management system (KMS) is the use of ICT platform that combines
and integrates functions for the contextualized handling of both, explicit and tacit knowledge as
part of knowledge management initiative. In Ethiopia, there exists gaps in managing traditional
medicine knowledge and KMS has not been designed and implemented for traditional medicine
practice.
Objectives: The objective of the project is to propose knowledge management system
architecture to promote knowledge management in traditional medicine practice in Ethiopia.
Methods: Methodology for proposing knowledge management system architectures is used. A
non- probabilistic purposive sampling technique is used to conduct key informant interview with
experts working in the Ethiopian public health institute, Ethiopian biodiversity institutes, Addis
Ababa University School of pharmacy, school of botany and school of anthropology. The data
collected was analyzed to define requirements for designing KMS architecture for traditional
medicine.
Findings: Through assessment of the existing knowledge management practices for traditional
medicine, Gaps in knowledge management practices were identified. KMS architecture was
proposed as an artifact for the identified problems. The proposed KMS architecture, which is a
base for designing and implementing the knowledge management system, adopted three stages in
the knowledge management cycle which are knowledge capturing, knowledge storage and
knowledge sharing.
Conclusion and Recommendation: This study provides a guide for implementing a KMS in
TM practice and leverage knowledge, which in turn helps the community and the whole country
in terms of supporting the existing health system. Therefore, the recommendation of this project
is that KMS for traditional medicine practice should be designed and implemented by the
Ethiopian government (Ethiopian Public Health Institute) based on the proposed architecture.
Description
Keywords
Management System (KMS), Architecture for HEALTH Traditional Medicine