Knowledge Management Approaches for Peace: the Experience of the UN Peacekeeping

Purpose – The paper deals with the role of knowledge in UN peacekeeping operations, and the modalities of its management. In detail, the study: a) illustrates the peculiar Knowledge Management issues arising from the context considered; b) describes the Knowledge Management practices adopted; c) makes some remarks about the practicability and problematic aspects of these practices. Design/methodology/approach – We propose an approach based on case-study research. The originality of the case-study proposed rests on the fact that this is a “frontier” experience that summarises and incorporates many elements of complexity of public decision-making, such as: uncertainty, multiplicity of goals and tasks, participation of different and often conflicting stakeholders, different levels of authority, etc. Originality/value – The analysis shows important elements of interest. From a conceptual viewpoint, the study addresses the more general issue of KM programmes applied to complex decision-making processes in public environments, involving multidimensional problems, different goals, and various independent organisations interacting in a non-hierarchical way. These aspects reflect on the complexity of the KM solution adopted in peacekeeping, whose study therefore provides interesting insights for both scholars and practitioners. Practical implications – From a practical viewpoint, peacekeeping is a recognised ingredient of the global stability, favouring the political, social and economic development of the countries coming out of conflicts. Considering that the UN is the major player, and this represents the most important example of programmes of peacekeeping and socio-economic promotion, the analysis of the UN experience provides food for thoughts for all the professionals and organisations alike involved in these processes.