Knowledge Society

Abstract

Chapter 10 deals with the Information and Knowledge Society. First, we will discuss the dimensions of decentralization efforts in the New Public Management (Sect. 10.1), which are brought forward with the help of eGovernment projects. Changes on the market, progress in the information and communication technology and social transformations demand for setting out in the direction of an Information and Knowledge Society (Sect. 10.2). A Knowledge Society distinguishes itself by the fact that it organizes the acquisition, assurance, utilization, and distribution of knowledge, and that it allows institutions and citizens to access knowledge-based systems (Sect. 10.3). Administrative organizations and societies are asked to acquire procedures and techniques of a learning organization (Sect. 10.4). In that process, the digital divide must be avoided, that is the division of society into those citizens who have Internet access and capacities, and those without such means and knowledge (Sect. 10.5). Without ethic rules (Sect. 10.6), a knowledge society is not viable. Section 10.7 contains bibliographical notes for further studies. At the end of this chapter, a case study on the so-called cognitive cities is presented.