British Journal of Management · 1999 · 92 citations · 7 references
Artificial IntelligenceEngineeringBusiness IntelligenceSoftware EngineeringSemantic WebKnowledge TechnologyKnowledge Management StrategyKnowledge SystemsManagementKnowledge EngineeringSystems EngineeringKnowledge RepresentationLotus NotesDesignFair KnowledgeKnowledge Data EngineeringKnowledge-based EngineeringBusinessKnowledge ManagementManagement Of TechnologyKnowledge ArchitectureTechnologyDecision Technology
Knowledge management is considered essential for organizational success and depends largely on technology, yet existing systems such as Lotus Notes focus on information handling rather than true knowledge. The authors argue that knowledge management requires tools and techniques focused on knowledge creation, mapping, transfer, and use. They adapt methods from knowledge engineering to build knowledge‑oriented technology, exemplified by the SPEDE toolkit used in business process re‑engineering for aerospace and automotive firms, yielding organizational benefits. Case studies at Andersen Consulting and Rolls‑Royce demonstrate improved decision‑making and best practices through these approaches.
Knowledge management is seen by many to be a prerequisite for the successful organization, and one that relies heavily, though not exclusively, on a sound technological infrastructure. A major drawback, though, with current technology (e.g. Lotus Notes and www) is its focus on information management and communication rather than on knowledge itself. What knowledge management needs is tools and techniques that are more oriented towards knowledge – its creation, mapping, transfer and use. We show how many of the methods and tools used in the branch of artificial intelligence known as knowledge engineering can be adapted to provide such a knowledge‐oriented technology, and lead to significant benefits for organizations. A number of case studies are presented which illustrate our points, including decision‐making at Andersen Consulting and best practice at Rolls‐Royce. A more elaborated use is shown in the context of business process re‐engineering, where a new software tool kit called SPEDE is being applied and validated within the aerospace and automotive industries.
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Laddering: technique and tool use in knowledge acquisition
Colin Corbridge, Gordon Rugg, Nigel Major et al. · Knowledge Acquisition · 1994 · 96 citations