scholarly journals (Neg)Entropic Scenarios Affecting the Wicked Design Spaces of Knowledge Management Systems

Entropy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 169
Author(s):  
Ulrich Schmitt
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Information Overload ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Design Science ◽  
Knowledge Workers ◽  
Science Research ◽  
General Purpose ◽  
Management Systems ◽  
Management Approach ◽  
Knowledge Management Systems

The envisioned embracing of thriving knowledge societies is increasingly compromised by threatening perceptions of information overload, attention poverty, opportunity divides, and career fears. This paper traces the roots of these symptoms back to causes of information entropy and structural holes, invisible private and undiscoverable public knowledge which characterize the sad state of our current knowledge management and creation practices. As part of an ongoing design science research and prototyping project, the article’s (neg)entropic perspectives complement a succession of prior multi-disciplinary publications. Looking forward, it proposes a novel decentralized generative knowledge management approach that prioritizes the capacity development of autonomous individual knowledge workers not at the expense of traditional organizational knowledge management systems but as a viable means to foster their fruitful co-evolution. The article, thus, informs relevant stakeholders about the current unsustainable status quo inhibiting knowledge workers; it presents viable remedial options (as a prerequisite for creating the respective future generative Knowledge Management (KM) reality) to afford a sustainable solution with the generative potential to evolve into a prospective general-purpose technology.

scholarly journals Systems Dynamics and Activity-Based Modeling to Blueprint Generative Knowledge Management Systems

2020 ◽  
pp. 170-177
Author(s):  
U. Schmitt ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Information Overload ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Design Science ◽  
Discrete Event ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Agent Based Modeling ◽  
Systems Dynamics ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
Individual Knowledge

The predicted embracing of thriving knowledge societies is increasingly compromised by threatening perceptions of information overload and attention poverty, opportunity divides and career uncertainties. By integrating system dynamics, discrete-event, and agent-based modeling, this paper traces the roots of these symptoms back to their causes of information entropy and structural holes, invisible private and undiscoverable public knowledge which together characterize the sad state of our current knowledge management (KM) and creation practices. Looking forward, it proposes a decentralized generative KM approach that prioritizes the capacity development of autonomous individual knowledge workers not at the expense but as a viable means to foster a fruitful co-evolution with traditional organizational KM systems. As part of an ongoing design science research and prototyping project, this systems thinking and hybrid model perspective complements a succession of prior multidisciplinary publications on the subject.

Designing decentralized knowledge management systems to effectuate individual and collective generative capacities

Kybernetes ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulrich Schmitt
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Design Science ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Disruptive Innovation ◽  
Management Systems ◽  
Prototype System ◽  
Knowledge Management Systems ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Prototype Development ◽  
Wide Range

Purpose In addressing the future trajectory of knowledge management systems, this paper uses the psycho-social notion of generativity which recently stimulated contributions in technology and innovation for a holistic systemic knowledge management (KM) review. The purpose of this study is to identify current shortcomings and fixations together with their ramifying affordances, all enveloped within a novel KM concept and prototype-system-under-development. Design/methodology/approach It follows up on prior publications using design science research (DSR) methodologies in compliance with theory effectiveness, a principle expecting system designs to be purposeful in terms of utility and communication. The KM perspective taken prioritizes a decentralizing agenda benefiting knowledge workers while also aiming to foster a fruitful co-evolution with traditional organizational KM approaches. Findings The notions of generative fit and capacities in their technical, informational and social interpretations prove able to accommodate diverse KM models and to cumulatively synthesize a wide range of related concepts and perspectives. In the process, Nonaka’s renowned socialize, externalize, combine, internalize and Ba model is repurposed and extended to suggest a corresponding complementing seize, imbed, collate, encompass, effectuate workflow embedded in distinct digital ecosystems fully aligned to the diversity of the generative attributes introduced. Research limitations/implications Although the prototype development is still in progress, the study conforms to the DSR practice to report on early visions of technology impact on users, organizations and society and also refers to and reflects on aspects of feasibility, suitability, acceptability and the system’s prospect as a general-purpose technology or disruptive innovation. Originality/value The paper transdisciplinarily integrates the well-established psychological notions of generativity into its newer digital and systemic KM dimensions. The resulting new insights transparently inform the concept and prototype design, present a holistic framework for individuals and organizations and suggest avenues for new KM applications and KM research directions inspired by the adopted and adapted novel generativity contexts.

scholarly journals From Ignorance Map to Informing PKM4E Framework: Personal Knowledge Management for Empowerment

10.28945/3984 ◽  
2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Design Science ◽  
Knowledge Workers ◽  
Rapid Development ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Knowledge Bases ◽  
Personal Knowledge ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Development Platform ◽  
Personal Knowledge Management

Aim/Purpose: [This Proceedings paper was revised and published in the 2018 issue of the journal Issues in Informing Science and Information Technology, Volume 15] The proposed Personal Knowledge Management (PKM) for Empowerment (PKM4E) Framework expands on the notions of the Ignorance Map and Matrix for further supporting the educational concept of a PKM system-in-progress. Background: The accelerating information abundance is depleting the very attention our cognitive capabilities are able to master, one key cause of individual and collective opportunity divides. Support is urgently needed to benefit Knowledge Workers independent of space (developed/developing countries), time (study or career phase), discipline (natural or social science), or role (student, professional, leader). Methodology: The Design Science Research (DSR) project introducing the novel PKM System (PKMS) aims to support a scenario of a ‘Decentralizing KM Revolution’ giving more power and autonomy to individuals and self-organized groups. Contribution: The portrayal of potential better solutions cannot be accommodated by one-dimensional linear text alone but necessitates the utilization of visuals, charts, and blueprints for the concept as well as the use of colors, icons, and catchy acronyms to successfully inform a diverse portfolio of audiences and potential beneficiaries. Findings: see Recommendation for Researchers Recommendations for Practitioners: The PKM4E learning cycles and workflows apply ‘cumulative synthesis’, a concept which convincingly couples the activities of researchers and entrepreneurs, and assists users to advance their capability endowments via applied learning. Recommendation for Researchers: In substituting document-centric with meme-based knowledge bases, the PKMS approach merges distinctive voluntarily shared knowledge objects/assets of diverse disciplines into a single unified digital knowledge repository and provides the means for advancing current metrics and reputation systems. Impact on Society: The PKMS features provide the means to tackle the widening opportunity divides by affording knowledge workers with continuous life-long support from trainee, student, novice, or mentee towards professional, expert, mentor, or leader. Future Research: After completing the test phase of the PKMS prototype, its transformation into a viable PKM system and cloud-based server based on a rapid development platform and a noSQL-database is estimated to take 12 months.

Systems for Knowledge Management along the Supply Chain

2016 ◽  
pp. 92-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
John S. Edwards
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Systems Development ◽  
General Purpose ◽  
Management Systems ◽  
Knowledge Management Systems ◽  
Service Supply Chain ◽  
Knowledge Exploration ◽  
General Purpose Software

This chapter explains the role of knowledge management systems, whether technology-based or people-based, in service supply chain management. A systematic literature review was carried out to identify relevant examples of both successful and unsuccessful knowledge management systems. These are analyzed in terms of process, people and technology aspects, and the activities in the knowledge life-cycle (create, acquire, store, use, refine, transfer) that they support. These include systems used within a single organization, systems shared with supply chain partners, and systems shared with customers, the latter being the least common. Notable features are that more systems support knowledge exploitation than knowledge exploration, and that general-purpose software (e.g., internet search, database) is used more than software specific to knowledge management (e.g., data mining, “people finder”). The widespread use of mobile devices and social media offers both an opportunity and a challenge for future knowledge management systems development.

scholarly journals Projectability and Heritage Management of Design Knowledge: A Grass-Roots Artefact Perspective of a Longitudinal Research Project for Knowledge Management System Innovation

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (23) ◽  
pp. 13033
Author(s):  
Ulrich Schmitt
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Longitudinal Research ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Research Output ◽  
Design Science ◽  
Knowledge Worker ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Heritage Management ◽  
Possible World

This article expands on design science-research (DSR) publications which—based on current knowledge management systems (KM/KMS) and practices—are conceptualizing and prototyping a novel more generative and knowledge-worker-centric approach just presented as a desirable sustainable KMS vision. The perspective taken follows up on recent systematic literature reviews and content analysis studies reporting on the poor knowledge accumulation and evolution in the design, information science, and KM disciplines. Proposed remedies and initiatives are pitched against the novel KMS development case with its longitudinal stream of research output. As the design and creation of complex innovative artefacts facing ‘wicked’ challenges are seldom complemented by concurrent research papers, rare insights are offered of how similar longitudinal DSR or KMS projects may be structured and of how the related domain’s heritage knowledge base and its fitness-for-use-and-evolution may be strengthened. Due to the cycles and progression of its prior publications, this case study is particularly suited to contribute to cumulative research synthesis and, hence, further focusses on the recently proposed notions of projecting and projectability for evaluating distances between actual real-world environments and future possible-world application-ecosystems—a perspective which may become essential acceptance criteria for publishing in DSR-related conferences and journal publishing outlets.

Scalability of generative knowledge management systems: designing for individuals’ and institutions’ mutual benefit

Kybernetes ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulrich Schmitt
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Design Science ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Disruptive Innovation ◽  
General Purpose ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Prototype Development

Purpose In further conceptualizing a novel generative knowledge management system (KM/KMS), this paper aims to focus on identifying and mitigating the risks related to its envisaged scaling from a prototype to an application with a rapidly growing user base. Design/methodology/approach It follows up on prior publications using design science research (DSR) methodologies in compliance with theory effectiveness, a principle expecting system designs to be purposeful in terms of utility and communication. The KMS perspective taken prioritizes a decentralizing agenda benefiting knowledge workers while also aiming to foster a fruitful co-evolution with conventional organizational KM approaches. Findings The utilization and further extension of the CKDT and a “scalable innovation” heuristic are assisting the detecting of potential scaling risks related to the logics and logistics, generative interoperability, technological capacitating, knowledge dynamics and value chain which further validates the viability of the proposed KM concept and system. Research limitations/implications Although the prototype development is still in progress, the paper conforms to the DSR practice to report on early visions of technology impact on users, organizations and society but also reflects on expectations of viability, desirability and commitment, as well as the system’s prospect as a general-purpose-technology or disruptive innovation. Originality/value In addition to the novel KM-related perspectives, the paper’s practical emphasis on the scaling of more complex systems is rarely dealt with in the literature due to the respective projects’ often large-scale collaborative nature, broad methodological scope and diverse stakeholders’ interests. In this case, the task is eased as prior DSR outputs can be referred to.

The Role of Fit in Knowledge Management Systems

2008 ◽  
pp. 2157-2177
Author(s):  
Peter Baloh
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Knowledge Creation ◽  
Design Science ◽  
Theoretical Background ◽  
Management Systems ◽  
Evolutionary Information ◽  
Knowledge Management Systems ◽  
Organizational Setting ◽  
Processing Theory ◽  
It Support

While most organizations have deployed knowledge management systems (KMS), only a handful have been able to leverage these investments. Existing knowledge management (KM) research offered valuable insights on how to introduce KMS in a sense of innovation-diffusion, yet little guidance has been offered to KMS developers who need to decide on functionalities of a tool they are to introduce in a particular organizational setting. The goal of this paper is to propose theoretical background for design of IS that successfully support and enable decision making, which is seen as the ultimate form of knowledge creation and utilization. By using principles of the design science, design profiles proposed build upon works from organization and IS sciences, primarily the evolutionary information-processing theory of knowledge creation (Li & Kettinger, 2006) and the task technology fit theory (Zigurs & Buckland, 1998), the latter being amended for particularities of the KM environment. Proposed fit profiles suggest that one-size-fits-all approaches do not work and that organizations must take, in contrast with suggestions of extant literature, a segmented approach to KM activities and fitting IT support.

Ontology

2017 ◽  
pp. 79-102
Author(s):  
Syed Raiyan Ghani
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Information Systems ◽  
Cognitive Process ◽  
Information Overload ◽  
Management Systems ◽  
Knowledge Management Systems ◽  
Library Users

Library requires mighty technologies to support, sort and categorize information in the shortest span of time for better knowledge-tasks and decision-making. Ontology is one of the needs and adroitness which helps library users in acquiring better standardized vocabulary, better routes and better search. The chapter discusses how ontology libraries can process as a connection in modifying versatile users and diligence to reveal, judge, utilize, and disseminate the information overload. The Ontology–based Information Systems (IS) and Knowledge Management Systems (KMS) helps cognitive process of reaching a decision which are used to draw out user information and fuzzy ontologies are applied to store the accumulated knowledge.

Systems for Knowledge Management along the Supply Chain

2020 ◽  
pp. 1926-1939
Author(s):  
John S. Edwards
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Systems Development ◽  
General Purpose ◽  
Management Systems ◽  
Knowledge Management Systems ◽  
Service Supply Chain ◽  
Knowledge Exploration ◽  
General Purpose Software

This chapter explains the role of knowledge management systems, whether technology-based or people-based, in service supply chain management. A systematic literature review was carried out to identify relevant examples of both successful and unsuccessful knowledge management systems. These are analyzed in terms of process, people and technology aspects, and the activities in the knowledge life-cycle (create, acquire, store, use, refine, transfer) that they support. These include systems used within a single organization, systems shared with supply chain partners, and systems shared with customers, the latter being the least common. Notable features are that more systems support knowledge exploitation than knowledge exploration, and that general-purpose software (e.g., internet search, database) is used more than software specific to knowledge management (e.g., data mining, “people finder”). The widespread use of mobile devices and social media offers both an opportunity and a challenge for future knowledge management systems development.

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