http://turing.une.edu.

au/~comp292/Lectures/
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indira/knowledge-management/finalprearation-questions
Principles, Case Studies
2008.06. Overview of Knowledge Management
06

Ch1

2008.06. The Nature of Knowledge

07

Ch2

2008.06. Knowledge Management Solutions

07

Ch3

2008.06. Organizational Impacts of Knowledge Management

09

Ch4

2008.06. Factors Influencing Knowledge Management

09

Ch5

2008.06. Knowledge Management Assessment of an Organization

09

Ch6

Technologies
2008.06. Technologies to Manage Knowledge: Artificial Intelligence, Digital
11
Libraries, Repositories, etc.

Ch7

2008.06. Preserving and Applying Human Expertise: Knowledge-Based

11
Systems

Ch8

2008.06. Using Past History Explicitly as Knowledge: Case-Based Systems

13

Ch9

2008.06. Knowledge Elicitation: Converting Tacit Knowledge to Explicit

14

Ch10

2008.06. Discovering New Knowledge: Data Mining

14

Ch12

2008.06. Text KM & Text Mining

23
Systems
2008.06. Knowledge Discovery: Systems that Create Knowledge
25

Ch13

2008.06. Knowledge Capture Systems: Systems that Preserve and Formalize Ch14
25
Knowledge; Concept Maps, Process Modeling, RSS, Wikis, Delphi
Method, etc.
2008.06. Knowledge Sharing Systems: Systems that Organize and Distribute Ch15
27
Knowledge; Ontology Development Systems, Categorization and
Classification Tools, XML-Based Tools, etc.
2008.06. Knowledge Application Systems: Systems that Utilize Knowledge
27

Ch16

Looking Forward
2008.06. What to Expect: The Future of Knowledge Management
28

Epilog
ue

2008.07. Group Project due

05

http://home.cse.ust.hk/~dekai/600G/
Understanding Knowledge

Knowledge can be defined as the ``understanding obtained through the process of

experience or appropriate study.''

Knowledge can also be an accumulation of facts, procedural rules, or heuristics.

o A fact is generally a statement representing truth about a subject matter or
domain.

o A procedural rule is a rule that describes a sequence of actions.

o A heuristic is a rule of thumb based on years of experience.

Intelligence implies the capability to acquire and apply appropriate knowledge.

o Memory indicates the ability to store and retrieve relevant experience according
to will.
o Learning represents the skill of acquiring knowledge using the method of
instruction/study.

Experience relates to the understanding that we develop through our past actions.

Knowledge can develop over time through successful experience, and experience can
lead to expertise.

Common sense refers to the natural and mostly unreflective opinions of humans.

Cognitive Psychology

Cognitive psychology tries to identify the cognitive structures and processes that closely
relates to skilled performance within an area of operation.

It provides a strong background for understanding knowledge and expertise.

In general, it is the interdisciplinary study of human intelligence.

The two major components of cognitive psychology are:

o Experimental Psychology: This studies the cognitive processes that constitutes
human intelligence.
o Artificial Intelligence(AI): This studies the cognition of Computer-based
intelligent systems.

The process of eliciting and representing experts knowledge usually involves a

knowledge developer and some human experts (domain experts).

In order to gather the knowledge from human experts, the developer usually interviews
the experts and asks for information regarding a specific area of expertise.

It is almost impossible for humans to provide the completely accurate reports of their
mental processes.

The research in the area of cognitive psychology helps to a better understanding of what
constitutes knowledge, how knowledge is elicited, and how it should be represented in a
corporate knowledge base.

Hence, cognitive psychology contributes a great deal to the area of knowledge

management.

Data, Information and Knowledge

Data represents unorganized and unprocessed facts.

o Usually data is static in nature.
o It can represent a set of discrete facts about events.
o Data is a prerequisite to information.
o An organization sometimes has to decide on the nature and volume of data that is
required for creating the necessary information.

Information
o Information can be considered as an aggregation of data (processed data) which
makes decision making easier.
o Information has usually got some meaning and purpose.

Knowledge
o By knowledge we mean human understanding of a subject matter that has been
acquired through proper study and experience.
o Knowledge is usually based on learning, thinking, and proper understanding of
the problem area.
o Knowledge is not information and information is not data.
o Knowledge is derived from information in the same way information is derived
from data.

o We can view it as an understanding of information based on its perceived

importance or relevance to a problem area.
o It can be considered as the integration of human perceptive processes that helps
them to draw meaningful conclusions.

Figure 1.1: Data, Information, Knowledge and Wisdom

Kinds of Knowledge

Deep Knowledge: Knowledge acquired through years of proper experience.

Shallow Knowledge: Minimal understanding of the problem area.

Knowledge as Know-How: Accumulated lessons of practical experience.

Reasoning and Heuristics: Some of the ways in which humans reason are as follows:
o Reasoning by analogy: This indicates relating one concept to another.
o Formal Reasoning: This indicates reasoning by using deductive (exact) or
inductive reasoning.

Deduction uses major and minor premises.

In case of deductive reasoning, new knowledge is generated by using

previously specified knowledge.

Inductive reasoning implies reasoning from a set of facts to a general

conclusion.

Inductive reasoning is the basis of scientific discovery.

A case is knowledge associated with an operational level.

Common Sense: This implies a type of knowledge that almost every human being possess
in varying forms/amounts.

We can also classify knowledge on the basis of whether it is procedural, declarative,

semantic, or episodic.
o Procedural knowledge represents the understanding of how to carry out a specific
procedure.
o Declarative knowledge is routine knowledge about which the expert is conscious.
It is shallow knowledge that can be readily recalled since it consists of simple and
uncomplicated information. This type of knowledge often resides in short-term
memory.
o Semantic knowledge is highly organized, ``chunked'' knowledge that resides
mainly in long-term memory. Semantic knowledge can include major concepts,
vocabulary, facts, and relationships.
o Episodic knowledge represents the knowledge based on episodes (experimental
information). Each episode is usually ``chunked'' in long-term memory.

Another way of classifying knowledge is to find whether it is tacit or explicit

o Tacit knowledge usually gets embedded in human mind through experience.
o Explicit knowledge is that which is codified and digitized in documents, books,
reports, spreadsheets, memos etc.

Expert Knowledge
It is the information woven inside the mind of an expert for accurately and quickly solving
complex problems.

Knowledge Chunking
o Knowledge is usually stored in experts long-range memory as chunks.
o Knowledge chunking helps experts to optimize their memory capacity and
enables them to process the information quickly.

o Chunks are groups of ideas that are stored and recalled together as an unit.

Knowledge as an Attribute of Expertise

o In most areas of specialization, insight and knowledge accumulate quickly, and
the criteria for expert performance usually undergo continuous change.
o In order to become an expert in a particular area, one is expected to master the
necessary knowledge and make significant contributions to the concerned field.
o The unique performance of a true expert can be easily noticed in the quality of
decision making.
o The true experts (knowledgeable) are usually found to be more selective about the
information they acquire, and also they are better able in acquiring information in
a less structured situation.
o They can quantify soft information, and can categorize problems on the basis of
solution procedures that are embedded in the experts long range memory and
readily available on recall.
o Hence, they tend to use knowledge-based decision strategies starting with known
quantities to deduce unknowns.
o If a first-cut solution path fails, then the expert can trace back a few steps and then
proceed again.
o Nonexperts use means-end decision strategies to approach the the problem
scenario.
o Nonexperts usually focus on goals rather than focusing on essential features of the
task which makes the task more time consuming and sometimes unreliable.
o Specific individuals are found to consistently perform at higher levels than others
and they are labeled as experts.

Thinking and Learning in Humans

Research in the area of artificial intelligence has introduced more structure into human
thinking about thinking.

Humans do not necessarily receive and process information in exactly the same way as
the machines do.

Humans can receive information via seeing, smelling, touching, hearing (sensing) etc.,
which promotes a way of thinking and learning that is unique to humans.

On macro level, humans and computers can receive inputs from a multitude of sources.

Computers can receive inputs from keyboards, touch screens etc.

On micro level, both human brain and CPU of a computer receive information as
electrical impulses.

The point to note here is that the computers must be programmed to do specific tasks.
Performing one task does not necessarily transcend onto other tasks as it may do with
humans.

Human learning: Humans learn new facts, integrate them in some way which they think
is relevant and organize the result to produce necessary solution, advice and decision.
Human learning can occur in the following ways:
o Learning through Experience.
o Learning by Example.
o Learning by Discovery.

KM Life Cycle
Challenges in KM Systems Development

Changing Organizational Culture:

o Involves changing people's attitudes and behaviours.

Knowledge Evaluation:
o Involves assessing the worth of information.

Knowledge Processing:
o Involves the identification of techniques to acquire, store, process and distribute
information.
o Sometimes it is necessary to document how certain decisions were reached.

Knowledge Implementation:
o An organization should commit to change, learn, and innovate.
o It is important to extract meaning from information that may have an impact on
specific missions.
o Lessons learned from feedback can be stored for future to help others facing the
similar problem(s).

Conventional Vs KM Systems Life Cycle(KMSLC)

Key Differences

The systems analyst gathers data and information from the users and
the users depend on analysts for the solution.

The knowledge developer gathers knowledge from people with known

knowledge and the developer depends on them for the solution.

The main interface for the systems analyst is associated with novice
users who knows the problem but not the solution.

The main interface for the knowledge developer is associated with the
knowledgeable person who knows the problem and the solution.

Conventional systems development is primarily sequential, whereas KMSLC is

incremental and interactive.

In case of conventional systems, testing is usually done towards the end of

the cycle (after the system has been built), whereas in KMSLC, the evolving
system is verified and validated from the beginning of the cycle.

Systems development and systems management is much more extensive for

conventional information systems than it is for KMSLC.

The conventional systems life cycle is usually process-driven and

documentation-oriented whereas KMSLC is result-oriented.

The conventional systems development does not support tools such as

rapid prototyping since it follows a predefined sequence of steps

KMSLC can use rapid prototyping incorporating changes on the spot.

Figure 2.1: Rapid Prototyping

Key Similarities

Both cycles starts with a problem and end with a solution.

The early phase in case of conventional systems development life cycle starts
with information gathering. In KMSLC the early phase needs knowledge
capture.

Verification and validation of a KM system is often very similar to

conventional systems testing.

Both the systems analyst and the knowledge developer needs to choose the
appropriate tools for designing their intended systems.

Figure 2.2: Users and Experts: A Comparison

KMSLC Approaches

Primarily due to lack of standardization, a number of approaches have been proposed for
KMSLC.

Refer to Table 3.2 in page 65 of your textbook for a list of representative approaches, and
refer to Figure 3.3 in page 66 of your textbook for a proposed hybrid life cycle.

The conventional systems development approach can still be used for developing KM
systems, but it is usually being replaced by iterative design, prototyping etc.

Evaluating the Existing Infrastructure

KM systems are developed in order to satisfy the need for improving productivity and potential
of employees and the company as a whole. The existing knowledge infrastructure is evaluated so
that it can give the perception that the present ways of doing things are not just abandoned in
preference for a new system.

System Justification: It involves answers to the following questions:

Is existing knowledge going to be lost through retirement, , transfer, or departure to other

organizations?

Is the proposed KM system needed in multiple locations?

Are experts available and willing to support the building of the proposed KM system?

Does the concerned problem needs years of proper experience and cognitive reasoning to
solve?

While undergoing knowledge capture, would it be possible for the expert to articulate
how the problem will be solved?

How critical is the knowledge that is to be captured?

Are the involved tasks nonalgorithmic in nature?

Would it possible to find a champion within the organization?

Scoping: According to the textbook, the term scoping means limiting the breadth and depth of
the project within the financial, human resource, and operational constraints.

Feasibility: Feasibility study involves addressing the following questions:

Is it possible to complete the project within the expected timeframe?

Is the project affordable?

Is the project appropriate?

How frequently the system would be consulted at what will be associated cost?

The traditional approach used to conduct a feasibility study can be used for building a KM
system. This involves the following tasks:

Forming a knowledge management team.

Preparing a master plan.

Performing cost/benefit analysis of the proposed system.

Quantifying system criteria and costs.

User Support

Is the proposed user aware of the fact that the new KM system is being developed? How
it is perceived?

How much involvement can be expected from the user while the building process
continues?

What type of users training will needed when the proposed system is up and running?

What kind of operational support should be provided?

Role of Strategic Planning

As a consequence of evaluating the existing infrastructure, the concerned organization

should develop a strategic plan which should aim at advancing the objectives of the
organization with the proposed KM system in mind.

Areas to be considered:
o Vision
o Resources
o Culture

Figure 2.3: Matching business strategies with KM strategies

Forming a KM team

Forming a KM team usually means

Identifying the key units, branches, divisions etc. as the key stakeholders in the
prospective KM system.

Strategically, technically, and organizationally balancing the team size and competency.

Factors impacting team success:

Quality and capability of team members (in terms of personality, experience, and
communication skill).

Size of the team.

Complexity of the project.

Team motivation and leadership

Promising only what that can be actually delivered.

Capturing Knowledge

Capturing Knowledge involves extracting, analyzing and interpreting the concerned

knowledge that a human expert uses to solve a specific problem.

Explicit knowledge is usually captured in repositories from appropriate documentation,

files etc.

Tacit knowledge is usually captured from experts, and from organization's stored
database(s).

Interviewing is one of the most popular methods used to capture knowledge.

Data mining is also useful in terms of using intelligent agents that may analyze the data
warehouse and come up with new findings.

In KM systems development, the knowledge developer acquires the necessary heuristic

knowledge from the experts for building the appropriate knowledge base.

Knowledge capture and knowledge transfer are often carried out through teams (refer to
Figure 2.4).

Knowledge capture includes determining feasibility, choosing the appropriate expert,

tapping the experts knowledge, retapping knowledge to plug the gaps in the system, and
verify/validate the knowledge base (refer to Table 3.4 in page 76 of your textbook).

Figure 2.4: Matching business strategies with KM strategies

The Role of Rapid Prototyping

In most of the cases, knowledge developers use iterative approach for capturing
knowledge.

Foe example, the knowledge developer may start with a prototype (based on the
somehow limited knowledge captured from the expert during the first few sessions).

The following can turn the approach into rapid prototyping:

o Knowledge developer explains the preliminary/fundamental procedure based on
rudimentary knowledge extracted from the expert during the few past sessions.
o The expert reacts by saying certain remarks.
o While the expert watches, the knowledge developer enters the additional
knowledge into the computer-based system (that represents the prototype).

o The knowledge developer again runs the modified prototype and continues adding
additional knowledge as suggested by the expert till the expert is satisfied.

The spontaneous, and iterative process of building a knowledge base is referred to as

rapid prototyping.

Expert Selection

The expert must have excellent communication skill to be able to communicate information
understandably and in sufficient detail.

Some common questions that may arise in case of expert selection:

How to know that the so-called expert is in fact an expert?

Will he/she stay with the project till its completion?

What backup would be available in case the expert loses interest or quits?

How is the knowledge developer going to know what does and what does not lie within
the expert's area of expertise?

The Role of the Knowledge Developer

The knowledge developer can be considered as the architect of the system.

He/she identifies the problem domain, captures knowledge, writes/tests the heuristics that
represent knowledge, and co-ordinates the entire project.

Some necessary attributes of knowledge developer:

o Communication skills.
o Knowledge of knowledge capture tools/technology.

o Ability to work in a team with professional/experts.

o Tolerance for ambiguity.
o To be able ti think conceptually.
o Ability to frequently interact with the champion, knowledge workers and knowers
in the organization.

Figure 2.5: Knowledge Developer's Role

Designing the KM Blueprint

This phase indicates the beginning of designing the IT infrastructure/ Knowledge Management
infrastructure. The KM Blueprint (KM system design) addresses a number of issues.

Aiming for system interoperability/scalability with existing IT infrastructure of the

organization.

Finalizing the scope of the proposed KM system.

Deciding about the necessary system components.

Developing the key layers of the KM architecture to meet organization's requirements.

These layers are:
o User interface
o Authentication/security layer
o Collaborative agents and filtering
o Application layer
o Transport internet layer
o Physical layer
o Repositories

Testing the KM System

This phase involves the following two steps:

Verification Procedure: Ensures that the system is right, i.e., the programs do the task
that they are designed to do.

Validation Procedure: Ensures that the system is the right system - it meets the user's
expectations, and will be usable on demand.

Implementing the KM System

After capturing the appropriate knowledge, encoding in the knowledge base, verifying
and validating; the next task of the knowledge developer is to implement the proposed
system on a server.

Implementation means converting the new KM system into actual operation.

Conversion is a major step in case of implementation.

Some other steps are postimplementation review and system maintenance.

Quality Assurance

It indicates the development of controls to ensure a quality KM system. The types of errors to
look for:

Reasoning errors

Ambiguity

Incompleteness

False representation

Training Users

The level/duration of training depends on the user's knowledge level and the system's
attributes.

Users can range from novices (casual users with very limited knowledge) to experts
(users with prior IT experience and knowledge of latest technology).

Users can also be classified as tutors (who acquires a working knowledge in order to
keep the system current), pupils (unskilled worker who tries to gain some understanding
of the captured knowledge), or customers (who is interested to know how to use the KM
system).

Training should be geared to the specific user based on capabilities, experience and
system complexity.

Training can be supported by user manuals, explanatory facilities, and job aids.

Managing Change

Implementation means change, and organizational members usually resist change. The resistors
may include:

Experts

Regular employees (users)

Troublemakers

Narrow minded people

Resistance can be seen in the form of following personal reactions:

Projection, i.e., hostility towards peers.

Avoidance, i.e., withdrawal from the scene.

Aggression.

Postsystem Evaluation

Key questions to be asked in the postimplementation stage:

How the new system improved the accuracy/timeliness of concerned decision making
tasks?

Has the new system caused organizational changes? If so, how constructive are the
changes?

Has the new system affected the attitudes of the end users? If so, in what way?

How the new system changed the cost of business operation? How significant has it
been?

In what ways the new system affected the relationships between end users in the
organization?

Do the benefit obtained from the new system justify the cost of investment?

Implications for KM

The managerial factors to be considered:

The organization must make a commitment to user training/education prior to building

the system.

Top Management should be informed with cost/benefit analysis of the proposed system.

The knowledge developers and the people with potential to do knowledge engineering
should be properly trained.

Domain experts must be recognized and rewarded.

The organization needs to do long-range strategic planning.

Some questions to be addressed by the management regarding systems maintenance:

Who will be the in charge of maintenance?

What skills the maintenance specialist needs to have?

What would be the best way to train the maintenance specialist?

What incentives should be provided to ensure quality maintenance?

What types of support/funding will be required?

What relationship should be established between the maintenance of the KM system and
the IT staff of the organization?

Knowledge Creation & Knowledge Architecture

Knowledge Creation

Knowledge update can mean creating new knowledge based on ongoing experience in a
specific domain and then using the new knowledge in combination with the existing
knowledge to come up with updated knowledge for knowledge sharing.

Knowledge can be created through teamwork (refer to Figure 3.1)

A team can commit to perform a job over a specific period of time.

A job can be regarded as a series of specific tasks carried out in a specific order.

When the job is completed, then the team compares the experience it had initially (while
starting the job) to the outcome (successful/disappointing).

This comparison translates experience into knowledge.

While performing the same job in future,the team can take corrective steps and/or modify
the actions based on the new knowledge they have acquired.

Over time, experience usually leads to expertise where one team (or individual) can be
known for handling a complex problem very well.

This knowledge can be transferred to others in a reusable format.

Figure 3.1: Knowledge Creation/Knowledge Sharing via Teams

There exists factors that encourage (or retard) knowledge transfer.

Personality is one factor in case of knowledge sharing.

For example, extrovert people usually posses self-confidence, feel secure, and tend to
share experiences more readily than the introvert, self-centered, and security-conscious
people.

People with positive attitudes, who usually trust others and who work in environments
conductive to knowledge sharing tends to be better in sharing knowledge.

Vocational reinforcers are the key to knowledge sharing.

People whose vocational needs are sufficiently met by job reinforcers are usually found
to be more likely to favour knowledge sharing than the people who are deprived of one or
more reinforcers.

Figure 3.2: Impediments to Knowledge Sharing

Nonaka's Model of Knowledge Creation & Transformation

In 1995, Nonaka coined the terms tacit knowledge and explicit knowledge as the two main types
of human knowledge. The key to knowledge creation lies in the way it is mobilized and
converted through technology.

Tacit to tacit communication (Socialization): Takes place between people

in meetings or in team discussions.

Tacit to explicit communication (Externalization): Articulation among

people trough dialog (e.g., brainstorming).

Explicit to explicit communication (Communication): This transformation

phase can be best supported by technology. Explicit knowledge can be easily
captured and then distributed/transmitted to worldwide audience.

Explicit to tacit communication (Internalization): This implies taking

explicit knowledge (e.g., a report) and deducing new ideas or taking
constructive action. One significant goal of knowledge management is to
create technology to help the users to derive tacit knowledge from explicit
knowledge.

Knowledge Architecture

Knowledge architecture can be regarded as a prerequisite to knowledge sharing.

The infrastructure can be viewed as a combination of people, content, and technology.

These components are inseparable and interdependent (refer to Figure 3.3).

Figure 3.3: Knowledge Management, a conceptual view

The People Core

By people, here we mean knowledge workers, managers, customers, and suppliers.

As the first step in knowledge architecture, our goal is to evaluate the existing
information/ documents which are used by people, the applications needed by them, the
people they usually contact for solutions, the associates they collaborate with, the official
emails they send/receive, and the database(s) they usually access.

All the above stated resources help to create an employee profile, which can later be used
as the basis for designing a knowledge management system.

The idea behind assessing the people core is to do a proper job in case of assigning job
content to the right person and to make sure that the flow of information that once was
obstructed by departments now flows to right people at right time.

In order to expedite knowledge sharing, a knowledge network has to be designed in such

a way as to assign people authority and responsibility for specific kinds of knowledge
content, which means:
o Identifying knowledge centers:

After determining the knowledge that people need, the next step is to find
out where the required knowledge resides, and the way to capture it
successfully.

Here, the term knowledge center means areas in the organization where
knowledge is available for capturing.

These centers supports to identify expert(s) or expert teams in each center

who can collaborate in the necessary knowledge capture process.

o Activating knowledge content satellites

This step breaks down each knowledge center into some more manageable
levels, satellites, or areas.

o Assigning experts for each knowledge center:

After the final framework has been decided, one manager should be
assigned for each knowledge satellite who will ensure integrity of
information content, access, and update.

Ownership is a crucial factor in case of knowledge capture, knowledge

transfer, and knowledge implementation.

In a typical organization, departments usually tend to be territorial.

Often, fight can occur over the budget or over the control of sensitive
processes (this includes the kind of knowledge a department owns).

These reasons justify the process of assigning department ownership to

knowledge content and knowledge process.

adjacent/interdependent departments should be cooperative and ready to

share knowledge.

The Technical Core

The objective of the technical core is to enhance communication as well as ensure

effective knowledge sharing.

Technology provides a lot of opportunities for managing tacit knowledge in the area of
communication.

Communication networks create links between necessary databases.

Here the term technical core is meant to refer to the totality of the required hardware,
software, and the specialized human resources.

Expected attributes of technology under the technical core: Accuracy, speed, reliability,
security, and integrity.

Since an organization can be thought of as a knowledge network, the goal of knowledge

economy is to push employees towards greater efficiency/ productivity by making best
possible use of the knowledge they posses.

A knowledge core usually becomes a network of technologies designed to work on top of

the organization's existing network.

User Interface Layer

Usually a web browser represents the interface between the user and the KM system.

It is the top layer in the KM system architecture.

The way the text, graphics, tables etc are displayed on the screen tends to simplify the
technology for the user.

The user interface layer should provide a way for the proper flow of tacit and explicit
knowledge.

The necessary knowledge transfer between people and technology involves capturing
tacit knowledge from experts, storing it in knowledge base, and making it available to
people for solving complex problems.

Features to be considered in case of user interface design:

o Consistency
o Relevancy
o Visual clarity
o Usability
o Ease of Navigation

Figure 3.4: The Transfer of Knowledge

Authorized Access Layer

This layer maintains security as well as ensures authorized access to the knowledge
captured and stored in the organization's repositories.

The knowledge is usually captured by using internet, intranet of extranet.

An organization's intranet represents the internal network of communication systems.

Extranet is a type of intranet with extensions allowing specified people (customers,

suppliers, etc.) to access some organizational information.

Issues related to the access layer: access privileges, backups.

The access layer is mostly focused on security, use of protocols (like passwords), and
software tools like firewalls.

Firewalls can protect against:

o E-mails that can cause problems.
o Unauthorized access from the outside world.
o Undesirable material (movies, images, music etc).
o Unauthorized sensitive information leaving the organization.

Firewalls can not protect against:

o Attacks not going through the firewall.
o Viruses on floppy disks.
o Weak security policies.

Collaborative Intelligence and Filtering Layer

This layer provides customized views based on stored knowledge.

Authorized users can find information (through a search mechanism) tailored to their
needs.

Intelligent agents (active objects which can perceive, reason, and act in a situation to help
problem solving) are found to be extremely useful in some situations.

In case of client/server computing, there happens to be frequent and direct interaction

between the client and the server.

In case of mobile agent computing, the interaction happens between the agent and the
server.

A mobile agent roams around the internet across multiple servers looking for the correct
information. Some benefits can be found in the areas of:

o Fault tolerance.
o Reduced overall network load.
o Heterogeneous operation.

Key components of this layer:

o The registration directory that develops tailored information based on user profile.
o Membership in specific services, such as sales promotion, news service etc.
o The search facility such as a search engine.

In terms of the prerequisites for this layer, the following criteria can be considered:
o Security.
o Portability.
Flexibility
o Scalability
o Ease of use.
o Integration.

Knowledge-Enabling Application Layer (Value-Added Layer)

This creates a competitive edge.

Most of the applications help users to do their jobs in better ways.

They include knowledge bases, discussion databases, decision support etc.

Transport Layer

This is the most technical layer.

It ensures to make the organization a network of relationships where electronic transfer of

knowledge can be considered as routine.

This layer associates with LAN (Local Area Network), WAN (Wide Area Network),
intranets, extranets, and internet.

In this layer we consider multimedia, URL's, connectivity speeds/bandwidths, search

tools, and consider managing of network traffic.

Middleware Layer

This layer makes it possible to connect between old and new data formats.

It contains a range of programs to do this job.

Repositories Layer

It is the bottom layer of the KM architecture which represents the physical layer in which
repositories are installed.

These may include, legacy applications, intelligent data warehouses, operational

databases etc.

After establishing the repositories, they are linked to form an integrated repository.

Figure 3.5: Integrated Knowledge Management System

Acquiring the KM System

Building In-house from Scratch

Requires ready professionals.

Development cost is high.

Risk is high.

Main benefit is the customization.

Buying

Quick installation.

Low cost.

Customization may not be quite right.

Outsourcing

It is a trend that allows organizations to concentrate on their strengths while technological

design and other specialized areas are releases to outsiders.

Present trend exists towards ready-to-use, generalized software packages. Advantages of a

reliable KM software package:

Implementation time is shorter.

Development cost is comparatively low.

There exists reduced need of resources.

Offer greater flexibility.

Shorter track record.

Lack of competition.

Application incompatibility.

Crucial components in case of knowledge management systems development:

Reliability

Market pressure.

Usability.

Modularity.

Performance.

Serviceability.

Portability.

Buying or outsourcing a KM system raises the important question of ownership. The issues to
consider in case of ownership:

What is the user paying for?

What restrictions exist in case of copying the software for organizational subdivisions?

Who can modify the software and what are the associated costs?

How the modifications can be made if at some stage the vendor happens to be out of
business?

Capturing the Tacit Knowledge

Knowledge Capture can be defined as the process using which the expert's thoughts and
experiences can be captured.

In this case, the knowledge developer collaborates with the expert in order to convert the
expertise into the necessary program code(s).

Important steps:
o Using appropriate tools for eliciting information.
o Interpreting the elicited information and consequently inferring the experts
underlying knowledge/reasoning process.
o Finally, using the interpretation to construct the the necessary rules which can
represent the experts reasoning process.

Expert Evaluation

Indicators of expertise:
o The expert commands genuine respect.
o The expert is found to be consulted by people in the organization, when some
problem arises.
o The expert possess self confidence and he/she has a realistic view of the
limitations.

o The expert avoids irrelevant information, uses facts and figures.

o The expert is able to explain properly and he/she can customize his/her
presentation according to the level of the audience.
o The expert exhibits his/her depth of the detailed knowledge and his/her quality of
explanation is exceptional.
o The expert is not arrogant regarding his/her personal information.

Experts qualifications:
o The expert should know when to follow hunches, and when to make exceptions.
o The expert should be able to see the big picture.
o The expert should posses good communication skills.
o The expert should be able to tolerate stress.
o The expert should be able to think creatively.
o The expert should be able to exhibit self-confidence in his/her thought and
actions.
o The expert should maintain credibility.
o The expert should operate within a schema-driven/structured orientation.
o The expert should use chunked knowledge.
o The expert should be able to generate enthusiasm as well as motivation.
o The expert should share his/her expertise willingly and without hesitation.
o The expert should emulate an ideal teacher's habits.

Experts levels of expertise:

o Highly expert persons.
o Moderately expert problem solvers.
o New experts.

Capturing single vs multiple experts' tacit knowledge:

o Advantages of working with a single expert:

Ideal for building a simple KM system with only few rules.

Ideal when the problem lies within a restricted domain.

The single expert can facilitate the logistics aspects of coordination

arrangements for knowledge capture.

Problem related/personal conflicts are easier to resolve.

The single expert tends to share more confidentiality.

o Disadvantages of working with a single expert:

Often, the experts knowledge is found to be not easy to capture.

The single expert usually provides a single line of reasoning.

They are more likely to change meeting schedules.

The knowledge is often found to be dispersed.

o Advantages of working with multiple (team) experts:

Complex problem domains are usually benefited.

Stimulates interaction.

Listening to a multitude of views allows the developer to consider

alternative ways of representing knowledge.

Formal meetings are sometimes better environment for generating

thoughtful contributions.

o Disadvantages of working with multiple (team) experts:

Disagreements can frequently occur.

Coordinating meeting schedules are more complicated.

Harder to retain confidentiality.

Overlapping mental processes of multiple experts can result in a process

loss.

Often requires more than one knowledge developer.

Developing Relationship with Experts

Creating the right impression: The knowledge developer must learn to use psychology,
common sense, technical as well as marketing skills to attract the experts respect and
attention.

Understanding of the expert's style of expression:

Experts are usually found to use one of the following styles of expression:
o Procedure type: These type of experts are found to be logical, verbal and always
procedural.
o Storyteller type: These type of experts are found to be focused on the content of
the domain at the expense of the solution.
o Godfather type: These type of experts are found to be compulsive to take over.
o Salesperson type: These type of experts are found to spend most of the time
dancing around the topic, explaining why his/her solution is the best.

Preparation for the session:

o Before making the first appointment, the knowledge developer must acquire some
knowledge about the problem and the expert.
o Initial sessions can be most challenging/critical.
o The knowledge developer must build the trust.
o The knowledge developer must be familiar with project terminology d he/she
must review the existing documents.
o The knowledge developer should be able to make a quick rapport with the expert.
Deciding the location for the session:

o Protocol calls for the expert to decide the location.

o The expert is usually more comfortable in having his/her necessary tools and
information available close to him/her.
o The meeting place should be quiet and free of interruptions.

Approaching multiple experts:

o Individual approach: The knowledge developer holds sessions with one expert at a
time.
o Approach using primary and secondary experts:

The knowledge developer hold sessions with the senior expert early in the
knowledge capture program for the clarification of the plan.

For a detailed probing, he/she may ask for other experts' knowledge.

o Small groups approach:

Experts gather together in one place, discuss the problem domain, and
usually provide a pool of information.

Experts' responses are monitored, and the functionality of each expert is

tested against the expertise of the others.

This approach requires experience in assessing tapped knowledge, as well

as cognition skills.

The knowledge developer must deal with the issue of power and its effect
on expert's opinion.

Fuzzy Reasoning & Quality of Knowledge

Capture

Sometimes, the information gathered from the experts via interviewing is not precise and
it involves fuzziness and uncertainty.

The fuzziness may increase the difficulty of translating the expert's notions into
applicable rules.

Analogies/Uncertainties:

o In the course of explaining events, experts can use analogies (comparing a

problem with a similar problem which has been encountered in possibly different
settings, months or years ago).
o An expert's knowledge or expertise represents the ability to gather uncertain
information as input and to use a plausible line of reasoning to clarify the fuzzy
details.
o Belief, an aspect of uncertainty, tends to describe the level of credibility.
o People may use different kinds of words in order to express belief.
o These words are often paired with qualifiers such as highly, extremely.

Understanding experience:
o Knowledge developers can benefit from their understanding/knowledge of
cognitive psychology.
o When a question is asked, then an expert operates on certain stored information
through deductive, inductive, or other kinds of problem-solving methods.
o The resulting answer is often found to be the culmination of the processing of
stored information.
o The right question usually evokes the memory of experiences that produced good
and appropriate solutions in the past.
Sometimes, how quickly an expert responds to a question depends on the clarity
of content, whether the content has been recently used , and how well the expert
has understood the question.

Problem with the language: How well the expert can represent internal processes can
vary with their command of the language they are using and the knowledge developer's
interviewing skills.

The language may be unclear in the following number of ways:

o Comparative words (e.g., better, faster) are sometimes left hanging.
o Specific words or components may be left out of an explanation.
o Absolute words and phrases may be used loosely.

o Some words always seem to have a built-in ambiguity.