1. KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION SERVICES
Dr Leon Gabriel
24 July 2019

2. CONTENTS Purpose of Knowledge and Information Services
Objectives linked to Strategic Objectives
Organogram
Roles, functions and staff establishment
Operational plans, key performance areas
Key Output Costs
Key Challenges

3. Purpose of the division
The KISD is responsible for the strategic leadership, development, promotion and dissemination of knowledge and information in support of the work of Members of Parliament:
Planning and implementation of knowledge-development, Knowledge collaboration and knowledge-sharing initiatives, including seminars and discussion forums on matters pertinent to the work of Parliament.
Reactive and proactive research for Committees and individual Members of Parliament in their legislative and oversight roles, incorporating public participation processes. Analytical research briefs, background papers and fact sheets are also produced in support of the participation of Members in various multilateral parliamentary bodies and other international engagements.
Simultaneous interpretation into all 11 official languages and South African Sign Language in all plenary sittings of the Houses and in some committees and public hearings (as capacity allows).

4. Purpose of the division continued
Production of the official record of the sittings of the Houses through the Hansard report, including translations from the language of the floor into English, as required.
Facilitation of public participation and the development and promotion of multilingualism through the translation of daily papers and other official parliamentary publications, as required.
Electronic document management through the development and implementation of a file plan and facilitation of implementation of the electronic document management system (uVimba/Alfresco)
Full library service, including inter-library loans, portfolio development and access to electronic information resources, including journal subscriptions and electronic newspapers.

5. Objectives of KISD
Programme 3: Core Business
Strategic Objective 2.1. Reduce average turn-around time for provision of procedural and legal advice, content and analytical advice, research products, minutes and reports and related services for Houses, committees and Members.
KEY OUTPUT
DIVISIONAL OBJECTIVE
OUTCOME GOAL
PERFORMANCE INDICATOR
Research, Information and Analysis
To enhance committee oversight of government departments, Executive accountability to Parliament and improve quality of deliberations in Committees and debates in the Houses of Parliament through provision of information and research services.
Strengthen oversight and accountability
Timeous provision of relevant analysis, research and information
Professional Multilingual Communications Services
To enhance public participation and facilitate communication amongst Members of Parliament through the availability and efficiency of Language Services (Translations, Interpreting).
Enhance public involvement
Timeous and high quality translations and interpreting services
Knowledge Creation and Organisation
To enhance committee oversight of government departments, Executive accountability to Parliament and improve quality of deliberations in Committees and debates in the Houses of Parliament through knowledge creation, codification and sharing
Knowledge development, sharing and codification and knowledge resource organization systems developed (Printing, Hansard, Electronic Document Management, PAIA, Telephony)

6. Organogram KISD Language Services Reporting Unit Translations Unit
Interpreting Unit
Research
Parliamentary Information Centre (Library)
Reference
Rare & Historical
Processing & Indexing
Acquisitions and Serials
Documentation
Document Management
Clerk of Papers & Registry
Document technical Services (Printing)

7. High-level Operational Plan
Input
(Inbound logistics)
Parliamentary Programme
Service requests
Client needs (expressed and derived from historical usage data)
Activities
(Operations)
Recording & Reporting
Translation of Hansard and non-Hansard documents
Interpretation in Houses and Committees (on request)
Desktop and empirical research, production and presentation of research papers
Data and information searches and provision of information
Library collection Development
Document Management (manual and electronic)
Tabling of official documents
Printing
Telephony technical management
Outputs
(Outbound logistics)
Knowledge Creation and Organisation
Knowledge development, sharing and codification
Memoranda of Understanding with research and academic institutions
Professionally printed and bound documents and reports
Institutional file plan and electronic document management system (uVimba)
Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) compliance
Telephone management
official report of House proceedings (Hansard)
Information and Analysis
Library collection including online newspapers and subscriptions
Library catalogue
Research papers, concept papers, legislative analyses
Reports of sectoral parliaments and special reports
Professional Multilingual Communications Services
Translated documents
Simultaneousor consecutive interpretation services
Stakeholder Management
(Marketing)
Services Charter
Personal engagement with key clients (Chairpersons of Committees, Members of Parliament, Division Managers)
Outcomes
(Service)
Seminars, colloquims / discussion sessions, round-table discussions
Codification advice and support
Access to increased professional expertise - Strategic collaborations - MoUs with research institutes, academic institutions
Documentation services (electronic and physical document management)
Printing (reports, official documents, daily papers)
Verbatim reporting of House proceedings
Non-partisan, objective research, information and library services
Research presentations
Reporting at special parliamentary events (sectoral parliaments, Taking Parliament to the People)
Translations
Simultaneous or consecutive interpretation services

8. Staff Establishment and Functions
Roles and functions
Staff Establishment and Functions

9. Professional Multilingual Communication Services
Key Output Costs
Professional Multilingual Communication Services
Research, Information and Analysis
Knowledge Creation and Organisation

10. Challenges
No dedicated budget for empirical research: impact on enhanced support to oversight and law-making
Technical equipment and tools of trade: language services (booths, DRT, translations software)
Unfunded vacancies (frozen posts): Documentation Section (9), Research (17), PIC – Library (10), Language Services (23)