KMSA Imbizo 2026
26-28 August 2026
Dear KMSA Community, Knowledge Management Scholars and Practitioners
It’s our great pleasure to invite you to KMSA Imbizo 2026, which is being organised by KMSA, and will be hosted at Oubaai Hotel and Golf Spa on the stunning Garden Route of South Africa.
About our Conference:
KMSA Imbizo is dedicated to taking the conversation further, and we have developed our call for papers from the collective knowledge that you contributed at the Imbizo in 2025. We listened to your knowledge need and responded.
Theme:
Think. Transform. Innovate. Realising Knowledge Value in a Digital Age
As you reflect on the journey that KM has undertaken in your organisation, your career or in the greater society, we invite you to consider the implementation needs that the digital age continues to demand from us. We encourage a time to think about our transformative power to innovate knowledge in this digital age. We will consider academic and practitioner papers to build on the conference theme from the following:
1. AI and Digital Transformation in Knowledge Management
We are keen to hear how you have put AI to the test by exploring practical and actual wins with AI and KM, or where you expose concerns regarding AI in knowledge management. This track examines practical applications of both the innovative opportunities and potential challenges of AI integration, from enhancing decision-making to addressing ethical considerations in automated knowledge systems, the dangers of hallucination and exposing empty promises towards ensuring improvements.
Key topics include:
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AI-driven knowledge management and maturity models
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Leveraging big data and digital platforms for knowledge sharing
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Digital transformation through insight-driven innovation
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From information overload to intelligent insight
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Smart knowledge for smart nations
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Balancing innovation with ethical AI deployment
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2. Strategic Knowledge Management and Governance
Examine knowledge management as a strategic enabler for organisational success, efficiency, and continuous improvement. This track focuses on how KM creates value, drives business agility, and serves as corporate currency in the modern business landscape.
Key Topics Include:
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KM as a strategic tool for efficiency and effectiveness
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Enabling value creation through knowledge management
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Knowledge management maturity frameworks
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Optimising processes and unlocking business agility
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Knowledge as corporate currency
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Policy implementation and governance in knowledge management
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Knowledge value and measurement
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Transformational leadership as a catalyst for knowledge management
3. Knowledge ecosystems as catalysts for innovation
Explore knowledge ecosystems as catalysts for solving “sticky” societal problems, strengthens organisational and community resilience while driving sustainable growth. This track explores knowledge ecosystems as catalysts for innovation, economic development, and adaptive capacity in facing global challenges by connecting diverse stakeholders.
Key Topics Include:
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Building resilient knowledge communities and organisations
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Harnessing knowledge ecosystems for sustainable growth
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Knowledge ecosystem development for climate change and global disruptions
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Innovation and entrepreneurship through knowledge ecosystems
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Geographic Information System (GIS) integrated KM for strategic decision-making
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Knowledge mapping and visualisation
4. People-Centric Knowledge Management and Collaboration
Place people at the heart of knowledge management initiatives. This track emphasises culturally relevant approaches that honour local wisdom while shaping the future of KM education, governance, and innovation across the continent and beyond. Knowledge sharing, transfer, and retention in various contexts while addressing the human dimensions of KM, including protecting knowledge champions and fostering collaborative cultures need to be embedded.
Key Topics Include:
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People-centric approaches towards workplace adoption of KM practices
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Knowledge transfer and retention in project environments
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Building knowledge sharing cultures
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Empowering and recognising knowledge champions
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Responsible and inclusive KM (intergenerational, intercultural, interdisciplinary, intersectoral knowledge transfer)
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Indigenous knowledge preservation and integration
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Culturally relevant KM frameworks
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Harnessing knowledge for a digital Africa
5. Embedded KM and future-focussed forecasts
Return to foundational principles while looking ahead to emerging trends. This track explores core concepts, essential skills for KM advancement, and the evolving understanding of why knowledge truly is power in the modern era.
Key Topics Include:
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Harnessing knowledge value for a digital future
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Fast-forward 15 years: KM imagined
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Evolving role of knowledge managers
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Evolving skillset requirements of knowledge managers
A: Practitioner submissions:
Please submit your proposed title and abstract (about 400 words) by clicking on the link below.
If you are accepted for the practitioner submission, you will be required to write up a short case study using the included template to start building homegrown case studies as part of the dissemination of knowledge presented at the conference.
B: Research submissions:
All submissions must be unpublished and not be under review elsewhere. All research submissions will go through a double-blind review process. Your submission will be assessed anonymously by at least two reviewers and managed by the academic program committee. We will be applying for a special issue for our 2026 submissions and will share author guidelines for full papers submissions shortly. To be considered for the research submissions, please submit your proposed title and abstract (about 400 words) by clicking on the link below.
Click here to submit
Important dates:
Deadline for abstracts: 11 February 2026
Notification of abstract acceptance: 25 February 2026
Deadline for full research paper submissions: 2 April 2026
Notification of full research paper acceptances: 11 June 2026
Camera-ready paper submissions: 9 July 2026