SAF AMONG ASIA'S MOST ADMIRED KNOWLEDGE ORGANISATIONS

At a ceremony held on 13 Oct in Seoul, South Korea, during World Knowledge Forum 2011, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) was recognised as one of Asia's Most Admired Knowledge Enterprise (MAKE), making it a two-time Asian MAKE award winner. This year, the SAF clinched third place in the Asian MAKE study.

"This was possible due to the continued emphasis placed on organisational learning and knowledge-based approaches which seek to improve operational and management effectiveness," said Brigadier-General (BG) Lee Shiang Long, Head Joint Communications and Information Systems Department (JCISD).

Citing examples such as the SAF's LEARNet system which allows servicemen to train at their own time and pace, BG Lee said: "This system also contains new applications that provide timely feedback and allow servicemen to better capture lessons learnt."

Another system which helped the SAF in its bid for the Asian MAKE award was the enterprise System for Innovation, Learning and Knowledge, or eSILK, which gives the SAF and its servicemen a platform for continuous learning, knowledge sharing and collaboration.

"As part of the SAF's 3rd Generation transformation, we are constantly looking for innovative means to be more operationally effective through organisational learning and knowledge management," added BG Lee.

At the award ceremony which was held during the World Knowledge Forum 2011, Colonel (COL) Chew Lock Pin, Head Plans, (JCISD) gave a presentation on the SAF's knowledge-management practices. He was there to receive the MAKE award on behalf of the SAF.

Established in 1998, the annual MAKE Award recognises knowledge-driven organisations that outperform their peers by growth in intellectual capital and shareholder value (for profit organisations), or societal value (for non-profit or public organisations).

This year, the 20 Asian MAKE Award winners were chosen from 29 finalists, which were shortlisted from 78 nominees based in Asia by a panel of Asian-based Fortune 500 senior executives and internationally-recognised knowledge management and intellectual capital experts. The Asian MAKE panel judges organisations based on eight key knowledge performance indicators such as innovation and efforts at creating a learning organisation. Entry into the MAKE study is strictly by invitation.

Last year, the SAF was the overall winner.

Following this win, the SAF was named as one of the winners of the 2011 Global Independent Operating Unit (IOU) Most Admired Knowledge Enterprises. Part of the annual MAKE study, the Global IOU MAKE category recognises Individual Operating Units which form part of a larger organisation - including individual companies, divisions, business units, agencies and departments.

Though the SAF is a two-time Global IOU MAKE Finalist; this is the first time that it has been recognised as a Global Individual Operating Unit (IOU) MAKE winner.

A panel of Global Fortune 500 senior executives and internationally-recognised KM/intellectual capital experts selected the 2011 Global MAKE IOU Winners. Other winners include several multi-national corporations and the US Federal Reserve System.