Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation (MBRF) receives ISO 30401 certification

This article is part of a series of articles on the new international knowledge management (KM) standard, ISO 30401 Knowledge management systems – Requirements.

The Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation (MBRF) has laid claim to being the world’s first nonprofit organisation to receive ISO 30401:2018 certification for Knowledge Management Systems requirements. As reported online by Day of Dubai:

The ISO certification followed a concerted internal effort by the Foundation’s team to meet each of the requirements of the standard. MBRF introduced Knowledge Management Strategy 2019-2021, which includes several initiatives based on complete stakeholder analysis, which enabled them to identify their needs and expectations and develop a knowledge management policy.

The strategy involves identifying key areas of knowledge of the Foundation, assigning staff officers to each level of ‘knowledge base’, determining the knowledge and skills the staff possess, and developing an action plan for documenting, transferring, developing and sharing skills.

The certification was developed in collaboration with staff and with respect for their skills, with two Knowledge Cafes held to train and engage with MBRF employees about the implementation requirements of the new ISO certification.

This effort continues the UAE’s top-level interest and support for Knowledge Management. For example, the UAE Ministry of Finance is one of the only worldwide government agencies to specifically endorse adoption of knowledge management, writing on its Development and Excellence page:

The Ministry of Finance (MoF) adopts the concept of knowledge management and dissemination, and is keen to develop human resources, train its employees and strengthen institutional culture according to approved global standards and team spirit at all departmental and organisational levels …

Knowledge is considered to be one of the institutional assets that, in many cases, is more valuable than financial assets. Developing knowledge is very different from putting it to use. Using knowledge relates to managing the available information, data, expertise and experiences after sorting and classifying it to support decision-making.

There is an interrelationship between knowledge management on one side, and creativity and innovation on the other. When the work environment at an institution fosters creativity, it becomes a creative institution in which work is based on knowledge. This has been accomplished by MoF through its practices, since it was established shortly after the UAE …

MoF adopts the best knowledge management applications in all its plans, programmes, services and practices. The ministry organises dozens of specialised conferences, forums and workshops each year, attended by academics, experts, specialists and employees within various fields of work to exchange knowledge and ideas, develop solutions and recommendations to improve performance, support the building of a national knowledge-based economy and promote specialised knowledge of technical financial services, programmes and systems among employees and partners.

Do you know of an ISO 30401 example? RealKM continues to seek stories of ISO 30401 implementation from around the world. If you know of more examples, please contact us with details.

Header image: MBRF Becomes World’s 1st Non-Profit to Secure ISO 30401:2018 Certification for Knowledge Management Systems Requirements. Source: ©MBRF.