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Volume :41 Issue : 4 2013
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Performance Measures for the Knowledge-Based Economy (KBE): A Case of Kuwait
Auther : Laila Marouf Abdus Sattar Chaudhry
A knowledge-based economy (KBE) is one that utilizes knowledge as the key engine of economic growth and development. Various international frameworks have suggested different approaches to review knowledge management activities to determine the transformation toward KBE. This study reviewed the status of the KBE in Kuwait. The study was carried out in two phases. The first phase focused on selecting the performance measures to be used to collect data on knowledge management activities in Kuwait. Focus group discussions were conducted in this phase with selected experts from the Central Statistical Office of Kuwait and it was concluded that it would be appropriate to use the set of key variables applied in the Knowledge Assessment Methodology (KAM) developed by the World Bank.
In the second phase, a range of comparative data tables, charts and diagrams focusing on the overall KBE position of Kuwait and its component parts were produced using the KAM. Strengths and weaknesses in each of the four pillars of the knowledge economy in Kuwait were identified.
Kuwait has performed pretty well on most of the 14 key variables, except in education where its scores are lower than several countries in the Arab Gulf Region. Findings also showed that Kuwait's Knowledge Economy Index (KEI) is above the average of the Middle East and North African (MENA) region, but it is lower than other A GCC countries except Saudi Arabia. In addition, Kuwait's Knowledge Index is found to be lower than three other A GCC countries (Bahrain, Qatar and the UAE), indicating that production of knowledge in Kuwait is on the lower side. In terms of the four pillars of the Knowledge Economy framework, Kuwait is leading in the area of ICT applications, is strong on the Economic Incentives and Institutional Regime pillar, weak on the Education pillar, and Innovation is the weakest pillar.
Key words: Knowledge-based economy (KBE), Knowledge management (KM), KBE performance measures, Kuwait
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