Showing papers in "Journal of Knowledge Management in 1998"
TL;DR: The Sense‐making approach to studying and understanding users and designing systems to serve their needs is reviewed and is described as a methodology disciplining the cacophony of diversity and complexity without homogenizing it.
Abstract: The Sense‐making approach to studying and understanding users and designing systems to serve their needs is reviewed. The approach, developed to focus on user sense making and sense unmaking in the fields of communication and library and information science, is reviewed in terms of its implications for knowledge management. Primary emphasis is placed on moving conceptualizations of users, information and reality from the noun‐based knowledge‐as‐map frameworks of the past to verb‐based frameworks emphasizing diversity, complexity and sense‐making potentials. Knowledge management is described as a field on the precipice of chaos, reaching for a means of emphasizing diversity, complexity and people over centrality, simplicity and technology. Sense making, as an approach, is described as a methodology disciplining the cacophony of diversity and complexity without homogenizing it. Knowledge is reconceptualized from noun to verb.
649 citations
TL;DR: This paper first creates a framework in which to discuss creativity and innovation, and goes on to explore how the authors' creativity is “blocked” in a variety of ways, including deep‐seated beliefs about the world.
Abstract: Creativity and innovation concern the process of creating and applying new knowledge. As such, they are at the very heart of Knowledge Management. This paper first creates a framework in which to discuss these issues. It goes on to explore how our creativity is “blocked” in a variety of ways, including deep‐seated beliefs about the world. Finally, this paper takes a brief look at two tools to support Knowledge Management and creativity: dialogue and groupware.
408 citations
TL;DR: This empirical study reports a unique implementation process of knowledge sharing from Buckman Laboratories that highlights the interplay between Knowledge Management systems and the organizational context.
Abstract: This empirical study reports a unique implementation process of knowledge sharing from Buckman Laboratories. Through a socio‐technical perspective on Knowledge Management, this paper highlights the interplay between Knowledge Management systems and the organizational context.
296 citations
TL;DR: 3M concentrates on the “tacit to tacit” area in the belief that if this is functioning well, other aspects of Knowledge Management will fall more readily into place.
Abstract: 3M’s objective is to become the most innovative company in the world. 3M employs a wide range of Knowledge Management systems, but the appropriate environment has to be in place before people will be motivated to input and access such systems. 3M concentrates on the “tacit to tacit” area in the belief that if this is functioning well, other aspects of Knowledge Management will fall more readily into place. The willingness to share knowledge between individuals is directly affected by the culture within a company.
208 citations
TL;DR: Developments in the area of advanced people and knowledge management networks by Meta4, an international software company that has developed a unique knowledge management platform called KnowNet (or Knowledge Network), are outlined.
Abstract: This paper reviews theories and concepts about how to increase the value of knowledge in an organization. It outlines developments in the area of advanced people and knowledge management networks by Meta4, an international software company that has developed a unique knowledge management platform called KnowNet (or Knowledge Network). The paper describes a knowledge management application of KnowNet and Web technology at Skandia. Skandia’s system, known as KenNet, was developed as an IT‐based knowledge network to enable organizations to utilize the knowledge and ideas of individuals. The KenNet was designed uniquely to augment the activity of Skandia’s concept of “futurizing”.
58 citations
TL;DR: A manifesto for brand marketing that re‐focuses its activities and challenges the roles, structures and behaviour of its management is proposed, which provides a new framework for developing, exploiting and managing brand knowledge.
Abstract: The concept of Brand Knowledge Management looks to move brand‐led organizations from content to process and from data to tacit knowledge. This paper proposes a manifesto for brand marketing that re‐focuses its activities and challenges the roles, structures and behaviour of its management. Above all, it provides a new framework for developing, exploiting and managing brand knowledge.
55 citations
TL;DR: The relationship that exists between the harnessing of corporate knowledge and the overall goals of a law firm, and in particular law firm profitability, is examined, providing some signposts for the development of a Law Firm Knowledge Management Strategy.
Abstract: This paper seeks to redress the imbalance between technology and information by first examining three models of Knowledge Management with reference to the law firm context. Secondly, it examines the relationship that exists between the harnessing of corporate knowledge and the overall goals of a law firm, and in particular law firm profitability. Finally, given the existence of this relationship, it provides some signposts for the development of a Law Firm Knowledge Management Strategy.
53 citations
TL;DR: The effectiveness of the authors' efforts in developing and implementing the knowledge artifacts or management tools depends to a large extent on their ability to refocus the design context of these tools as artifacts, from an information centric paradigm to one of knowledge within the context of a sense‐making paradigm.
Abstract: The advancement of human knowledge is the result of evolution of human capabilities for absorbing, developing and processing human intelligence, and perhaps just as equally, on the human capability to develop symbols and artifacts for assisting in the creation, diffusion and sharing of knowledge. These artifacts not only have evolved in their sophistication and ability to help human knowledge enterprise, but also they have become embedded in the knowledge networks and the global knowledge enterprises. The universal knowledge architecture today can be best represented as a set of interconnected networks linking the neural networks of our brain with our organizational, institutional, professional and societal networks, and the networks of knowledge artifacts. Within this context the knowledge enterprise is viewed as a sustaining quest for sense making through the human to human process for scaffolding of knowledge where the knowledge artifacts play quintessential and inseparable roles. The effectiveness of our efforts in developing and implementing the knowledge artifacts or management tools depends to a large extent on our ability to refocus the design context of these tools as artifacts, from an information centric paradigm to one of knowledge within the context of a sense‐making paradigm.
45 citations
TL;DR: This paper argues that the foundation for a new economic order has been laid and it is one that rests on the value of human potential and how it might be systematically leveraged for the benefit of mankind.
Abstract: This paper argues that the foundation for a new economic order has been laid. It is one that rests on the value of human potential and how it might be systematically leveraged for the benefit of mankind. The challenge is to determine the integral linkage between human potential and economic performance. This will be accomplished by creating a worldwide innovation vision and culture, supported by innovation tools, techniques and metrics.
37 citations
TL;DR: This paper examines KM technologies in relation to early work done by Douglas Engelbart, subsequent developments in business and management, and recent technological advances in a historical context.
Abstract: This paper describes existing knowledge management (KM) tools and technologies in a historical context: where they have been, where they are now, and where they are going. It examines KM technologies in relation to early work done by Douglas Engelbart, subsequent developments in business and management, and recent technological advances. Finally, from this historical vantage point, the authors address the future of KM.
35 citations
TL;DR: It is argued that the way out of the productivity paradox is to transition out of traditional investments in information processing technologies, offers diminishing returns, to investments in knowledge technologies, offering increasing returns.
Abstract: This paper focuses on the famous productivity paradox ‐ despite widespread investments in information technologies, very few of them can be shown to positively impact the productivity statistics. The authors argue that the way out of the productivity paradox is to transition out of traditional investments in information processing technologies, offering diminishing returns, to investments in knowledge technologies, offering increasing returns. They argue that such a shift, in order to be effective, must be built with a core focus on meeting the users’ needs in knowledge work. Topics reviewed include knowledge retrieval, including knowledge servers and their architecture; knowledge capture; and knowledge navigation and discovery. The paper concludes with an assessment of emerging knowledge technologies.
TL;DR: A complexity‐based model of the knowledge worker’s behavior entailing cognitive as well as structural practices is presented, and a set of knowledge techniques and tools, and agent‐based architectures are introduced to create a framework that is flexible, evolvable and adaptable to the user's needs.
Abstract: This paper characterizes the complexity of a knowledge worker’s environment in today’s business enterprise. This environment, with its ever‐changing landscape of tasks, processes, tools, and technologies, is making prohibitive demands on the knowledge worker’s time and attention. To aid in the successful navigation of this complex environment, we present a complexity‐based model of the knowledge worker’s behavior entailing cognitive as well as structural practices. Viewing knowledge work in the context of interactions ‐ among users and the company’s and external resources ‐ we propose that a company’s knowledge management efforts should employ technologies that facilitate these interactions by reducing the time and attention requirements for its workforce. We introduce a set of knowledge techniques and tools, and agent‐based architectures, and show how they can be integrated to create a framework that is flexible, evolvable and adaptable to the user’s needs. When the interactions are facilitated and increased, such a system has potential to exhibit efficiency, coordination and innovation as an “emergent” outcome.
TL;DR: Key business and operational issues in knowledge management for drug development are described, how knowledge management is an appropriate technology for modern drug development is shown, and the importance of domain models are argued for.
Abstract: The paper is aimed at two distinct readerships: drug industry participants who are interested in how knowledge management applies to their industry and knowledge management workers who are interested in seeing how general knowledge management issues play out in this problem domain. To accommodate the latter, without boring the former, a lengthy sidebar offers an introduction to drug development and key vocabulary. We describe key business and operational issues in knowledge management for drug development, show how knowledge management is an appropriate technology for modern drug development, argue for the importance of domain models, and make connections to representative theoretical and experimental work.
TL;DR: The Second Comparative Study of Knowledge Creation Conference was held in St. Gallen, Switzerland, in June 1998 and focused on the development of ideas, concepts and perspectives that advance the theory and practice of knowledge creation.
Abstract: The Second Comparative Study of Knowledge Creation Conference was held in St. Gallen, Switzerland, in June 1998. The conference focused on the development of ideas, concepts and perspectives that advance the theory and practice of knowledge creation. Three conference presentations are highlighted in this review.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors argue that current financial accounting and reporting systems provide too little information on the kinds of intellectual assets that would appear to be important in a knowledge economy, and that government could play a role in guiding reporting of new information that would allow investors to make better informed decisions.
Abstract: Current financial accounting and reporting systems provide too little information on the kinds of intellectual assets that would appear to be important in a knowledge economy. But there has been little progress in changing financial information, or improving non‐financial information. Government could play a role in guiding reporting of new information that would allow investors to make better informed decisions.
TL;DR: This paper ‘looks’ into one of the most novel knowledge management technology products that has been brought to the market in the recent years, and describes two technologies, information visualization and knowledge extraction, for leveraging natural abilities of vision, language and memory.
Abstract: This paper ‘looks” into one of the most novel knowledge management technology products that has been brought to the market in the recent years. The authors describe two technologies, information visualization and knowledge extraction, for leveraging our natural abilities of vision, language and memory. They discuss a way for exploiting structure that is available in the information system in one case (traditionally called structured) and easily perceived by humans in the other (traditionally called unstructured). The two technologies focus on the two sides of this goal, respectively. They demonstrate the value of these technologies in supporting interaction with much larger amounts of information than was possible with previous graphical interfaces and in guiding access and use of the information and often for automating portions of the work.
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TL;DR: A “storyboard” exercise to encourage creativity and an exercise to create supportive work climates, both used in the company’s programme, are discussed.
Abstract: As part of Glaxo Wellcome’s executive development programme, leaders are finding new ways to release their own potential and generate creative climates for staff. A “storyboard” exercise to encourage creativity and an exercise to create supportive work climates, both used in the company’s programme, are discussed.
TL;DR: Developments in traditional knowledge management methods linking different knowledge resources are now being augmented by newer models and methods that have excellent potential benefits and their potential for researchers are examined.
Abstract: It is well understood that knowledge management is extremely important in order to achieve the goals and aspirations of research communities. Traditional knowledge management methods linking different knowledge resources are now being augmented by newer models and methods that have excellent potential benefits. The new innovations typically involve creative combinations of technology, human expertise and communication models. Innovations such as digital libraries have attracted significant attention, especially in the publishing industry. Some of these projects have made the transition from prototypes to production systems, enabling relatively quick and reliable access to research publications. Other innovations such as “push technology” or information filtering promise a level of maturity that could offer researchers a constellation of automatic electronic agents that assist with highly specialized aspects of the research process. This paper examines developments in some of these innovations and their potential for researchers.