Tagging introduces an intuitive and easy method to organize resources in information systems. Although tags exhibit useful prop-erties for e.g. personal organization of information, recent research has shown that the navigability of social tagging systems leaves much to be desired. When browsing social tagging systems users often have to navigate through huge lists of potential results be-fore arriving at the desired resource. Thus, from a user point of view tagging systems are typically hard to navigate. To overcome this issue, we present in this paper a novel approach to supporting navigation in social tagging systems. We introduce tag-resource taxonomies that aim to support efficient navigation of tagging systems. To that end, we introduce an algorithm for the generation of these hierarchical structures. We evaluate the proposed algorithm and hierarchies from a theoretical, semantic and empirical point of view. With these evaluations we are able to show the high performance and usefulness of the proposed hierarchies.
With the increased popularity of Web 2.0 services in the last years data privacy has become a major concern for users. The more personal data users reveal, the more difficult it becomes to control its disclosure in the web. However, for Web 2.0 service providers, the data provided by user is a valuable source for offering effective, personalised data mining services. One major application is the detection of spam in social bookmarking systems: in order to prevent a decrease of content quality, providers need to distinguish spammers and exclude them from the system. They thereby experience a conflict of interests: on the one hand, they need to identify spammers based on the information they collect about users, on the other hand, they need to respect privacy concerns and process as few personal data as possible. It would therefore be of tremendous help for system developers and users to know which personal data are needed for spam detection and which can be ignored. In this paper we address these questions by presenting a data privacy aware feature engineering approach. It consists of the deisgn of features for spam classification which are evaluated according to both, performance and privacy conditions. Experiments using data from the social bookmarking system BibSonomy show that both conditions must not exclude each other.
Knowledge economy is more and more collaborative and de-centralized, where knowledge is defined, used and shared across different groups and domains. Sharing this knowledge allows users to create knowledge-based commmunities but introduces security risks to organizations when confidential data is disclosed to competitors. This paper describes a semantic framework to define knowledge-based communities where users can share knowledge across organizations posing and enforcing access and privacy policies. In addition it also provides a graphical tool to represent and visualize those communities facilitating the understanding of their relations and the content within them. In addition, it presents the evaluation carried out by a group of triallists from two commercial departments.
This article aims at providing better understanding of the applicability of Semantic Web tools and technologies in practice. It introduces a case study of the use of semantic technologies for extraction, integration and meaningful search and retrieval of expertise data, as an example of the new approaches to data integration and information management. In particular, the paper discusses the process of building expert profiles in a form of ontology database by integrating competences from structured and unstructured sources. The results of the case study show that emerging Semantic Web technologies such as the OWL 2, SPARQL, SPIN rule language, and public vocabularies such as FOAF, DOAC, bibTeX, Dublin Core and other can be used for building individual and enterprise competence models. The proposed approach extends the functionalities of existing enterprise information systems and offers possibilities for development of future Internet services. This allows organizations to express their core competences and talents in a standardized, machine processable and understandable format, and hence facilitates their integration in the European Research Area and beyond.
In this paper we present an approach to improving navigability of a hierarchically structured Web encyclopedia. The approach is based on an integration of a tagging module and adoption of tag clouds as a navigational aid in such a system. The main idea of this approach is to apply tagging for the purpose of a better highlighting of cross-references between information items across the hierarchy. Although in principle tag clouds have the potential to support efficient navigation in tagging systems, recent research identi ed a number of limitations. In particular, applying tag clouds within pragmatic limits of a typical user interface leads to poor navigational performance as tag clouds are vulnerable to a so-called pagination e ect. In this paper, a possible solution to the pagination problem is discussed. In addition, the paper presents a first implementation prototype developed within an Austrian online encyclopedia called Austria-Forum.
Although most enterprises nowadays increasingly employ digital informa-tion management in all areas, there are still many organisations – e.g. in the Public Sector – where much of formal and informal information is documented on paper only. This work lays out the concept of a set of digital metaphors for entities in the “paper world” and argues that they will ease the adoption and acceptance of digital informa-tion and knowledge management solutions.
We furthermore describe how the metaphors are linked with each other. We place a special focus on the relationship between informal, unstructured information and formally structured one, as well as on collaboration and knowledge sharing enabled by the metaphors. These aspects have been combined into a prototype that is described and illustrated in some detail
More than ever, the Web is a space of social interaction. Recent trends reveal that Internet users spend more time interacting within online communities than in checking and replying to e-mail. Online communities and institutions create new spaces for interaction, but also open new avenues for the emergence of grievances, claims, and disputes. Consequently, online dispute resolution (ODR) procedures are core to these new online worlds. But can ODR mechanisms provide sufficient levels of reputation, trust, and enforceability for it to become mainstream? This contribution introduces the new approaches to ODR with an emphasis on the Ontomedia Project, which is currently developing a web-based platform to facilitate online mediation in different domains
Ontology evaluation is an integral part of the ontology development process. Errors in ontology create serious problems for the information system based on it. To our surprise, the existing systems are unable to identify most of the errors. We evaluate some well known ontologies against the published error taxonomy and describe our algorithms to evaluate ontologies. The target errors include circulatory errors in class and property hierarchy, common class and property in disjoint decomposition, redundancy of sub class and sub property, redundancy of disjoint relation and disjoint knowledge omission. For the implementation, ontologies are indexed using a variant of already proposed and published scheme Ontrel. In addition to the previous errors taxonomy, the algorithms also cover recently extended error taxonomy. We evaluate our algorithms for performance and report errors detected in well known ontologies including Gene Ontology (GO), WordNet Ontology, OntoSem Ontology.
This paper introduces a new process-oriented visualisation method for risk assessment in groups. Today, in corporate risk assessment there is a lack in visual facilitation methods for collaborative assessments of risks. Existing visualisation methods emphasize analytical purposes. However, they are not useful for the facilitation of risk assessments in a group, such as the board of management. The described risk visualization approach offers a visual dialogue oriented approach to improve the quality of organisational risk-assessment in groups and goes hand in hand with already established risk management processes and systems. Secondly, this paper introduces the “ETH Baugarten Value Lab”, where we tested the tool on touch displays.
An important activity for the learner while learning is the reflection on the learning path and strategy. So far, not many tools provide an automatic support for the reflection on the learning activities. Here, we describe our approach to enable reflection with the help of usage and contextual metadata. We describe how we capture usage information and provide algorithms like the identification of similar users, contents and tools for reflection like a learner Zeitgeist application or the elicitation of learning paths.
30.000 advisory calls per year! How to analyze, rate and improve them interactively? For getting these goals a novel technique is introduced, which is based on a structure similar to a music score. Via a “duet”, guided by the advisor called, the main contents of the dialogue are extracted and stored automatically. At this, trained speech recognition is applied for the (known) advisor’s part for monitoring and controlling the call’s course, and keyword spotting is used for the (unknown) “customer” to pick out instances from sets of expected values. The results thereof fill an abstract score annotated to the call conducted. Then, because of the strong structure of such scores, the archive of all these dialogues is an ideal base for retrieval, exploration, comparison and clustering of calls, using e.g. graphical tools like knowCube®.
Evaluating success of knowledge management (KM) is a difficult undertaking, yet without a decent approach to show evidence about its value, KM initiatives might not be sustainable as already evident in many abandoned projects. Although there have been a number of theoretical approaches on evaluating success of KM, so far organizations find it difficult to design an evaluation effort and as a consequence many often only employ the most straightforward approaches such as adding some questions to a general user survey without much reflection as to e.g., who, what, how, why and when they measure and what consequences should be taken upon the results. This paper aids evaluation by providing an interrogative framework for designing evaluation initiatives. Its applicability is shown with the help of a real-world case study evaluating the KM system @sk!.
We introduce a framework for a new idea tool Note, which gathers, fosters and manages innovative ideas. Note supports the development of organizational memory and is connected to the practices of organizational innovativeness. The tool utilizes text mining methods in idea processing, management and visualization and is thus a new approach in idea management software. The tool is under development.
Wikis have their seeds in the easy collaborative editing and maintenance of web pages. This was picked up by tremendously successful public projects such as the online encyclopedia Wikipedia. Creating, modifying and maintaining of wiki articles implies social structures and dependencies between wiki authors and wiki articles themselves. The general challenge of this work is to consider these structures as dynamic evolving networks and to point out prominent behaviors in large wiki-based networks. We present an environment capable of handling data management, measurement and visualization issues for the dynamic network analysis of publicly available wiki data.
The knowledge maturing theory opens an important macro perspective within the new paradigm of work-integrated learning. Especially wikis are interesting socio-technical systems to foster maturing activities by overcoming typical barriers. But so far, the theory has been mainly based on anecdotal evidence collected from various projects and observations. In this paper, we want to present the results of a qualitative and quantitative study of Wikipedia with respect to maturing phenomena, identifying instruments and measures indicating maturity. The findings, generalized to enterprise wikis, open the perspective on what promotes maturing on a method level and what can be used to spot maturing processes on a technology level.
Today, reuse-oriented software engineering covers the process of the development and evolution of software systems by reusing existing experience (i.e., products, processes, and knowledge). One of the major problems of software reuse is the lack of knowledge and skills for understanding reusable experience. This paper explains how the reuse process can be used to support individual learning on the one hand, and how learning can improve the selection of reuse experience and their application on the other hand. The paper emphasizes the importance
of context in the domain of reuse and how context information can be used to compose socalled Learning Spaces from Learning Components. Learning Spaces didactically enrich reusable experience and enhance experiential learning. The approach uses Wikis as a base technology for presenting and structuring learning content.
This paper focuses on two technological aspects. Firstly, the MISTRAL system is briefly introduced in order to give some insights into one possible way of gaining and managing multi-modal information that is extracted from a meeting corpus and semantically enriched. And secondly, a multi-model approach is analysed and explained for the purpose of enabling different personalised and context-dependent views on the gained information spaces. As the system consists of several specialised sub-systems, the focus is set on the Semantic Applications Unit (SemAU), which represents the front-end sub-system to external clients. The SemAU is responsible for the main user-centred functions of MISTRAL: Search & Retrieval, Modelling & Adaptation, and Multiple Visualisations.
Many of today’s biomedical applications and those which are likely to arise in the future require the long-term-storage of irreplaceable living cell samples by means of cryopreservation. Besides storing cell samples, managing a large amount of sample information and executing a high number of different preparation protocols are business processes of cryobanks and cryo-biomedical labs, as well as exchanging samples, their data and preparation protocols between different such institutions. All those processes need to be highly reliable and compatible to the potentially long storage time of cell samples which might be up to centuries. Wrong knowledge about samples or about preparation protocols may be lethal. This paper describes a method which is the fundament for a reliable knowledge management of biological cell samples and of preparation protocols. Moreover, it is the fundament for the ChameleonLab® infrastructure which is a workflow management system (WfMs) matching the particular needs of cryobanks and biomedical labs. Principles and prototypic implementation of ChameleonLab® are described and the integration into the “Eurocryo” demonstration and research cell bank is shown. After discussing a first system evaluation, additional requirements are identified.
Abstract: Pattern-based Task Management (PBTM) has been recently suggested as a paradigm to support knowledge-intensive work due to its flexibility regarding process changes. In the present paper we discuss how a PBTM can be implemented using Web Services (WS). The approach reverts to structural similarities between PBTM and WS. It will be discussed how the PBTM can be realized in a service-oriented architecture. Such an approach can be seen as basis for task handling in an inter-organizational frame, supporting outsourcing and virtualization.
Experts from different research fields are of the same opinion about personalisation in e-learning environments: the tenet of modern teaching and learning paradigms is that different learning goals require different didactical approaches. Thus, technological challenges and didactical expectations must be differentiated from and adapted to learners’ opportunities and objectives. Based on the utilisation of Dynamic Background Libraries (DBLs) in adaptive e-learning systems, this paper gives one example where the predictability of a learning need does not function, because learner expectations arise after the personalisation procedure. The focus is set on a new DBL implementation that considers some lessons learned from evaluation results and goes a step beyond semantics (“meaning”), i.e. pragmatics (“intension”). For this purpose, the enhanced DBL version (called Concept-based Context Modelling System) uses Concept Molecules, which allow not only static semantic descriptions and relations, but also pragmatic linkages on single concepts in order to enable multiple on-purpose semantic views.
Organizational procurement is a process of information exchanges and price bargaining between buyer and seller. The process and its outcome are both influenced by the professional experience of the relevant agents, the cognition of the agents concerning market risk, the analysis of contingency in the bargaining process, etc. Decisions of an enterprise are composed by the individuals in the company. How to congregate and motivate the individuals to make good decisions for running the business in a company, are challenging issues today. A consulting model for the evolution of an organizational market is built, based on literature review of inter-organizational negotiations, and in-depth interviews with top-level executives in a few leading Taiwanese companies engaged in organizational procurement. An experimental study is conducted based on the proposed model, and the empirical data is collected to gain knowledge of organizational procurement decision making. TOVE and Protégé are applied in designing the ontology for creating valuable information for marketplace administrators building appropriate strategies for their businesses.
This paper presents results of an empirical study on the use of knowledge management in logistics companies from Germany and Portugal. This study run in early 2006 aimed at understanding how important knowledge in those companies is, what and how strong the investments in knowledge were in 2004, what needs (defined as the difference between priorities and investments) did exist, and what the impacts of the investments in knowledge on the companies’ evolution between 2003 and 2005 were. The results achieved so far show clear differences, but also surprising similarities between the two countries. Furthermore, the impact of KM on the logistics performance is still hardly to be grasped.
In this article the focus lies on the modelling of knowledge processes for small and medium-sized enterprises. In the first part of this paper an empirical study conducted at the Department of Information Systems (University of Innsbruck) illustrates the key knowledge processes (knowledge acquisition, knowledge allocation, knowledge conservation, knowledge disposal) for SME. The result of this survey was a knowledge process model which links efficient methods of knowledge management to SME.
In this paper we describe first experiences with AdeLE prototype, a framework for adaptive e-learning utilising both eye tracking and content tracking technology. We outline features of the first prototype and their relevance for the user. We report more in detail about current research challenges where we observe users’ learning behaviour in real time by monitoring characteristics such as objects and areas of focus, time spent on objects, frequency of visits, and sequences in which content is consumed. This research is focused on analysing eye-movement patters during learning and linking these patterns with cognitive processes. Possible areas of application are described, such as using the information about the position of the eye for providing additional context specific information to the learner. The framework ensures not only adaptivity to the users’ preferences, knowledge level and the real-time tracking of their behaviour, but also the relevance, accuracy and reliability of the knowledge provided.
Formats and Technologies in the Digital Mathematics Library Project
The main obstacle to easy accessing the vast amount of knowledge is the fact that they are not available in well-designed, standard, fully indexed electronic form, together with detailed metadata and full-text search capabilities. This paper is a case study of design issues in a subproject of WDML (World Digital Mathematics Library) aimed at digitizing valuable mathematical journals and books published in the Czech and Slovak Republics, to make them publicly available in digital form. We discuss here the design of the work-flow aiming at having mathematical knowledge stored in digital library. The key concept is a gradual enhancement of the digital material by ‘knowledge enhancing’ filters applied to the markup-rich XML data.
The ELA-LogNet is an educational network of persons and institutions involved in logistics education and training and interested in supporting it by use of multimedia and information technologies. It focuses on enabling logistics educators and trainers to introduce any kinds of educational multimedia and technologies to their educational processes as knowledgeable consumers or well acquainted supervisors or even to become enthusiastic multimedia developers. For this, not only an appropriate technological infrastructure is required, but also an organizational basis and culture encouraging collaboration and exchange to the benefit of all of the network’s members. The paper will discuss these aspects on the basis of experience gained within the ELA-LogNet to help educational networks to encourage knowledge sharing and overcome knowledge hiding despite competitive situations.
Scientific research centres and universities are knowledge-intensive institutions, where knowledge creation and distribution are constant – and this knowledge should be managed. In spite of this, scientific work has been known for being solitary work, in which human interaction takes place only in small groups within a research domain. Currently, due to technology improvements, scientific data from different sources is available, communication between researchers is facilitated and scientific information creation and exchange are faster than in the past. However, the focus on information exchange is too limited to create systems that enable true cooperation and knowledge management in scientific environments. To facilitate more expressive exchanging, sharing and dissemination of knowledge and its
management, we have created a scientific knowledge management environment in which researchers may share their data, experiences, ideas, process definition and execution, and obtain all the necessary information to perform their tasks, make decisions, learn and disseminate knowledge.
Knowledge-intensive work goes beyond classical workflow with respect to flexibility and integration into the personal task management. The necessity of such integration is demonstrated considering the example of Engineering Change Requests (ECR), handled by an integrated workflow as provided by SAP’s Product Lifecycle Management (PLM). This solution is discussed with respect to additional requirements that occur in ECR processes. This is compared to current approaches as provided by projects at the DFKI and others. An approach is presented that carries on the existing ideas on a more flexible basis, making more extensive use of knowledge management methods.
From the emergence of Knowledge Management (KM) systems until today, the vast majority of the implemented systems have concentrated on a centralised architecture, which utilizes knowledge within a single organizational domain. Lately, there is much focus on alternative, distributed approaches, which attempt to overcome the single organization’s KM paradigm, and develop inter-organizational knowledge exchange infrastructures. Effective management from a security perspective is always a serious and difficult to achieve challenge, especially when it comes to managing resources from cooperating autonomous domains. Security issues in Information Systems coalition enabling environments are treated in this paper and a secure distributed KM architecture is being presented.
Extracting knowledge from audio recordings is frequently necessary in usability studies. At present, recordings are usually transferred to text before analysis begins. This is a long, tedious process, during which some information is lost. When analysing information, analysts work in text analysis tools that encourage them to organise ideas linearly. This is not always convenient to do. In this paper, we describe a tool that will allow users to organise audio recordings in a spatial environment without the need for full transcriptions.
In this paper, a terminological and pragmatic paradigm shift is proposed and undertaken from the field of Personalisation Systems towards the field of Adaptive Systems. A new conceptual framework for both topics is developed in order to enable a deeper insight into the challenges and benefits of merging the fields. The aim of this paper is to define a generic and component-based Personalisation Model (PM), which is derived from an analytical perspective on systems that are pertinent to adaptation. Furthermore, validity and applicability of the PM are demonstrated for the field of adaptive e-learning. Thus, practical experiences within the AdeLE (Adaptive e-Learning with Eye-Tracking) research project are discussed.
Organizations can be defined as knowledge-based systems with the objective to influence all knowledge processes. Defining and measuring the knowledge value of the company are key strategic concerns in contemporary companies. First, this paper discusses the basic knowledge measurement approaches. During the process of knowledge identification the interviewing method is a commonly used tool. The paper portrays the impact of the interviewer bias to the quality of knowledge measurement processes. The refection theory is the basic framework to measure interviewer bias associated with the knowledge measurement processes. Six case studies conducted by the author form the data bases for presenting improvement implications of the interviewer bias to knowledge measurement.
In this paper we introduce AdELE, a framework for adaptive e-learning utilising both eye tracking and content tracking technology. The framework is based upon the combination of fine-grained real-time eye tracking with synchronous content tracking, a user profiler, an adaptive multimedia learning environment, and a dynamic background library. The framework ensures not only adaptivity to the users’ preferences, knowledge level and the realtime tracking of their behaviour, but also ensures the relevance, accuracy and reliability of the knowledge provided.
Organisations are searching for efficient training methods that fit to their specific demands. This paper presents the various training and knowledge sharing initiatives applied at Hewlett Packard Services Consulting and Integration (HPS C&I) for its Knowledge Management (KM) program. It outlines the usage of e-learning for our KM program but gives at the same time an idea how e-learning can be put on top of collaborative workspaces and be tied into the KM program.
Experience-based Information Systems (EbIS) become more and more sophisticated from a technical point of view. However, there are several shortcomings that seem to limit the input and usage of these systems. The problems identified in this paper are related to knowledge acquisition, to learning issues, as well as to the users’ motivation and trust. We introduce an approach to both enhance the content of the experience base (EB) and to improve learning from experiences at the same time: weblogs maintained during daily work can serve as input for experience bases and learning element bases (LEB). Retrieved experiences are then enriched with additional learning elements in micro-didactical learning arrangements. An empirical study explores the suitability of using weblogs for such an approach.
This paper explores a process view of call centres and the knowledge infrastructures that support these processes. As Call centres grow and become more complex in their function and organisation so do the knowledge infrastructures required to support their size and complexity. This study suggests a knowledge-based hierarchy of ‘advice-type’ call centres and discusses associated knowledge management strategies for different sized centres. It introduces a Knowledge Infrastructure Hierarchy model, with which it is possible to analyze and classify call centre knowledge infrastructures. The model also demonstrates different types of interventions supporting knowledge management in call centres. Finally the paper discusses the possibilities of applying traditional maturity model approaches in this context.
PreBIS is a research-project1 that develops five core functions of context-aware collaborative information provision, based on user requirements in weakly structured and information intensive business processes. An innovative software architecture will be proposed, that adapts and combines processes, ontologies and document chunks. PreBIS realises four forms of “pre-building” an information space: at the document or information level, in systems integration, at the process level, and in learning routines. The discussions in the project allow some suggestions on how to characterise and handle the challenges in knowledge process modelling, as they were addressed by the aims of the conference.
Knowledge-based organizations such as universities have realized that effective development and management of their organizational knowledge base is critical to survival in today’s competitive business environment. The knowledge and expertise of a university’ staff who teach and research in different areas is the major asset that a university holds. In order to make use of this asset, there is a need to share expertise between staff as well as transfer expertise to industry. The need to be able to quickly locate experts with the specific expertise has been recognized by many universities. Traditional approach is to build an expertise database. However this approach heavily depends on individual expert and has problems in maintaining the up-to-date information. In this paper we discuss the development of an RDFbased Expertise Matcher suitable for use within an academic research environment. A key feature of this work is that the expertise profile is created based on the integration of multiple expertise indications stored in an organizational memory. In addition our approach combines the advantage of flexibility of keyword search and accuracy of concept search. An evaluation of the RDF-based Expertise Matcher has been conducted through an experiment and the key results are presented.
People need information to create new knowledge. For each piece of information obtained, a range of previous knowledge, competences, beliefs and own concept definitions significantly influence personal perception and one’s knowledge creation. This in turn, affects the ability to remember, reason, solve problems and interpret information. These issues have to be considered when planning knowledge management systems, in which information retrieval and handling, reuse, people interaction, knowledge interchange and dissemination comprise its characteristics. This paper is based on the Knowledge Object definition from Merrill and proposes an approach which more precisely enables Knowledge Object representation, taking into account the domain in which a KO is used, a range of previous knowledge, competences, beliefs, concept definitions, user profile and recommendation from community users.
A small collection of metadata concepts has been jointly negotiated among a group of specialists to be relevant for classifying data used in their field. A series of comparisons are made to test levels of agreement between individuals when these concepts are used to tag data items. Inter-coder agreement measures are presented for a range of data sets and individuals with varying relationships to the data sets. The implications of the results for the use of metadata as a supporting mechanism for knowledge sharing are discussed.
In this paper we present the results of two studies aimed at understanding how employees find knowledge available in their organisation. Data about knowledge awareness and knowledge finding strategies were collected in two research organisations using interviews and on-line questionnaires. The results of the two studies demonstrate interesting patterns. First, we found that although people say that they are aware of knowledge in their organisation, they also indicate that the same knowledge is developed at different places in their organisations. Second, asking others and searching own mailbox and other own digital and paper archives – and not organisation-wide repositories – are most popular ways for finding in-house knowledge. The results are discussed in terms of implications from the perspective of employees and from the perspective of organisations.
Companies are starting to recognise synergies between knowledge management, training and e-learning programs, but a closer look reveals that these integration ideas are rarely implemented in practice. The goal of this paper is to provide a starting point for collaboration between corporate KM and HR/learning teams by mapping existing practices of linking KM, training and e-learning efforts. We provide an overview of experiences and future ideas of collaboration derived from several studies, group them in three themes and then illustrate each theme with a scenario. The first theme gives examples of using HR and training instruments to support knowledge management. The second theme represents cases of using KM methods (namely a community of practice) to support HR learning management efforts. The last theme describes how KM and HR/learning teams could work on joint initiatives. Then we discuss the added value of the scenarios and propose further practical steps and research directions.
The effective use, preservation and creation of knowledge in design-type work processes is of vital interest for an enterprise. We present the CLOCKWORK approach to organizational learning which comprises a web-based toolset to structure, store and retrieve knowledge elements created during all phases of the product development. The examination and re-use of this knowledge base across different design processes as well as the consideration of earlier aftersales experiences during product design are key steps towards systematic organizational learning. The solution is presented using an example from the speciality engineering domain.
Algorithmic research is an established knowledge engineering process that has allowed researchers to identify new or significant problems, to better understand existing approaches and experimental results, and to obtain new, effective and efficient solutions. While algorithmic researchers regularly contribute to this knowledge base by proposing new problems and novel solutions, the processes currently used to share this knowledge are inefficient, resulting in unproductive overhead. Most of these publication-centred processes lack explicit high-level knowledge structures to support efficient knowledge management. The authors describe a problem-centred collaborative knowledge management architecture associated with Computational Problem Solving (CPS). Specifically we articulate the structure and flow of such knowledge by making in-depth analysis of the needs of algorithmic researchers, and then extract the ontology. We also propose a knowledge flow measurement methodology to provide human-centred evaluations of research activities within the knowledge structure. This measurement enables us to highlight active research topics and to identify influential researchers. The collaborative knowledge management architecture was realized by implementing an Open Computational Problem Solving (OpenCPS) Knowledge Portal, which is an open-source project accessible at http://www.opencps.org.
Due to contradictory results obtained in Knowledge Management initiatives a model of audit is presented. The main action in the international project “Strateg” is the development and application of a model to diagnose and propose suitable recommendations concerning the management of knowledge and intellectual capital of a firm. A brief description of the model is presented after the exposition of its key scientific assumptions. Finally, the current state of the project is reviewed.
Knowledge creation and organisational learning are as much about questioning assumptions as they are about harnessing what is already known. We describe a procedure for expressing knowledge, theorising from it, identifying data suitable for testing theories, and the value to a business of the outcomes it produces. This technique, called ‘theorise-inquire’, supports the validation of knowledge once it is expressed in a shareable form and draws attention to gaps in data and to information quality generally. We illustrate the ideas presented with examples drawn from work with profit protection specialists working in large retail organisations in the UK.
The present state of research on competence management does not provide any suitable model that can be used in practice. This article presents a model for integrated competence management, which gives approaches from both cognitive science and organizational science a practical framework of action.
Knowledge Flow Management is our newly proposed knowledge sharing and knowledge management approach, which can realize the tightly coupled and efficient knowledge sharing by optimizing the knowledge flow process. Incorporating the knowledge flow with the loosely coupled knowledge-sharing paradigms is a solution to balance the efficiency and flexibility. This paper first presents the concepts and methods of the Knowledge Flow and the Knowledge Grid and then presents the approach to incorporate them. The case of applying the approach to realize knowledge management in distributed software development team is studied.
This paper describes experience gained in implementation of Knowledge Management models and instruments in a cross—organisational research setup. concretely in a case of Delft Cluster Knowledge Centre. The role of Knowledge Management and in particular of Communities of Practice in Delft Cluster is outlined, followed by an extended list of Lessons Learned.
ln this paper, we address the problem of integrating answering queries using views (and more generally query folding) with semantic query optimization into one optimizer that uses the semantic knowledge about information sources expressed as integrity constraints to support the query processing and optimization of knowledge management applications.
Establishing electronically accessible repositories of people’s capabilities, experiences, and key knowledge areas is key in setting up Enterprise Knowledge Management. A skills repository can be used for e.g. finding people, staffing, skills gap analysis, and professional development. The ontology based skills management system developed at Swiss Life uses RDF schema for storing ontologies. Its query interface is based on a combined RQL and HTML query engine.
This paper reports on long-term research work of recycling networks in Germany and Austria from a knowledge-based perspective. Using data from expert interviews, we
discuss the key determinants of inter-organizational knowledge transfer within networks. In particular, we highlight the factor of mutual trust as important determinant of knowledge transfer in company recycling networks. One important goal of our empirical research is the institutionalization of knowledge transfer through the implementation of a central recycling agency in order to build core capabilities and to create intellectual capital.
The efficient management of knowledge has become imperative for almost all types of organizations. Many approaches exist for dealing with knowledge management at a corporate level. But there is also a need to support knowledge management also at an individual level, a level which takes the specific needs, experiences and skills of knowledge workers into account. While largely unexplored within the field of knowledge management, in the field of digital libraries advanced personalization and customization concepts exist. Within this context, this paper examines these concepts and how they can be exploited to address the challenges which are typical for knowledge management. As the paper will show, many synergies exist, if knowledge management at an individual level is dealt with in combination with personal digital libraries.