FIMA Year Book 2009 - Federation of Islamic Medical Associations

Muslim Contributions1. Research Activity2. Research Utilization3. Knowledge Management4. Organizational LearningA new concept here is that of “Knowledge Management” (KM). Definitionsof KM vary, but many include the core processes of creation or developmentof knowledge, its movement, transfer, or flow through the organisation, andits application or use for performance improvement or innovation (57) .Early models of KM focused on the measurement of available knowledgeassets and intellectual capital, with later models focusing on processes ofmanaging knowledge in organisations, split into models where technicalrationalityand information technology solutions were central and academicmodels focusing on human factors and transactional processes (57) . The moreemergent view is of the organisation, academic or otherwise, as ‘milieu’ orcommunity of practice, where the focus on explanatory variables shiftsaway from technology towards the level of interactions between individuals,and the potential for collective learning. However, technical models andsolutions are also still quite dominant in healthcare and academics (58,59) .STEP – 6 and 7: Establishment of Muslim Medical Colleges with Respectable Research Output.It is the writers’ sincere belief that, provided all the preliminary steps ( 1-5 )are followed, realization of goals outlined in Tables 1 and 2 will be achievedin due course, insha’Allah. One key critical success factor towards achievingthese goals is for the institution involved to be proactive and methodicalin identifying the goals and implementing steps to achieve it. This articleis concluded with a brief outline of factors that, if found in participatinginstitutions, will either prove detrimental or beneficial in achieving theintended goals of the whole exercise. These factors need to be recognized,pursued, removed or implemented either prior to initiating this exercise orin the course of doing it. These factors include, but not limited to:• Lack of organizational motivation to carry out the exercise: Althoughheads of institutions may be highly motivated, the level of involvementof their faculties is the key to their long term commitment to success. Itshould be presented as a basic requirement to qualify for participation.Coherence of institutional heads with their faculties is very easy toassess in open exchange of dialogue.• Strength of Department of Medical Education and Research: Sincethis is actually a capacity building exercise, the actual qualificationsand personnel of these key areas at ground level may not besatisfactory. However, the key organization needs to assure high levelof understanding, professionalism, sincerity, transparency and above allFIMA YearBook 2009123