Knowledge and Its Attributes

Bahjat AbuhadbaDillion Rath

Jessica Smith

What is knowledge?

Defined as: the range of one’s information or understanding. From Webster’s Dictionary.

Breaking it down: If knowledge is a range of information, then: Information is knowledge Information is data Data is information

Usable Representations

Defined as: the knowledge as being that which is embodied in usable representation.

Two key notions: Representation

Is some arrangement in time/space Ex. Diagrams, photographs, mental

patterns, etc.

Usable Representations

Usability Defined as: the amount of usable

information perceived by the processor. Determined by the degree of the

processor’s speed, accuracy and action taken

Knowledge States

Six states: Data: lowest level, gathering state Information: second level, selection

state Structured Information: third level,

analyzing state Insight: fourth level, synthesizing state Judgment: fifth level, weighing state Decision: Final level, evaluation state

Stocks and Flows

Stocks: inventory of knowledge available to processors

Flows: Two types: Knowledge transferal from one stock to

another Knowledge flow from a stock into itself Equated to learning

Knowledge Versus Information

KVI perspective: Views knowledge as a state in its own right Aimed to define knowledge by

differentiating it from information or data

Thus, data is turned into information and information is turned into knowledge

Knowledge and Technology

1990’s was the rise of Knowledge Management and at the same time tremendous advances in computing and communication technology

Extremes KM has nothing to do with technology KM is all about technology

Technology is Incidental

Knowledge Uniquely human, only existing in the

context of human interpretation and processing

Data or Information Knowledge that can be represented and

processed by humans or computers

What happens if technology is eliminated?

Ernst & Young vanishes Knowledge would be face to face or

faxed, not through e-mail Knowledge repositories would be

human memory or pieces of paper, not web pages or databases

Search engines, Web crawlers would be of no importance

Technology is Everything

Technology is not Knowledge Management Technology vendors would become the primary

sources for KM solutions Technology would become an end in and of

itself, without attention to its consequences People would be seen as supporting the

technology, instead of the technology enabling or amplifying human knowledge processing abilities

The Middle Path

Knowledge management is concerned with people, technology, organizations, and the fits among them

Focuses Representations that human processors find to

be usable and methods/practices for effectively managing these representations and processors to max. usability and improve outcomes in the context of organizational and technological environments.

The Middle Path

The representations that computer-based processors can utilize in accomplishing various tasks

The enterprise as a processor, custodian, and user of knowledge

The alignment and coordination of the various knowledge-related elements

Computer-Based Technology: A Servant of KM

CBT Computer Information Systems (CIS),

Management Systems (MIS) CBT has transformed how

knowledge work is done Descriptive Knowledge: data and info at

the low end to problem solutions, designs and decisions at the high end

Computer-Based Technology: A Servant of KM

Procedural Knowledge: specifying the steps for performing some task

Reasoning Knowledge: specifying what conclusion is valid when a particular situation exist

Computer Based Technology Emerged Emphasis

Data processing systems

1950’s-1960’s

Representation of low grade descriptive knowledgeRecording transactionsProducing transactions

Management Information systems

1960’s-1970’s

Representation of low to middle grade descriptive knowledgeRecord keeping based on transactionsProducing predefined types of reports that organize data into more usable chunks of info

Decision Support Systems

1970’s-1990’s

Representation of descriptive, procedural, and/or reasoning knowledgeUse of knowledge to solve (or find) problemsDelivery of knowledge needed by a decision maker in a desired formatPossibly, on the spur-of-the-momentPossibly, in response to unanticipated or novel knowledge needsIncludes modeling systems, expert systems, online analytical processing, business intelligence systems

Organizational computing systems

1980’s-1990’s

Facilitates knowledge flows and reuse among multiple participants in some organizational formMay involve descriptive, procedural and/or reasoning knowledgeIncludes groupware, collaboration systems, workflow systems, enterprise systems, inter-organizational systems, adaptive systems

Ubiquitous Computing 1990’s- Universal, non-stop availability of knowledge and knowledge processorsIncludes Web-based, mobile , and embedded computing systems

Computer-Based Technology: A Servant of KM

1. CBT researchers are KM researchers We do not develop and deploy technology for its own

sake, but because it helps us to better deal with knowledge of various types and in various gradations enroute to better individual and organizational performance

2. Opportunities for research that improves on current CBT

Human and computer-based knowledge processors Supporting and performing knowledge manipulation

task Assisting in the measurement, control, coordination,

and leadership of knowledge Helping ensure that the right knowledge gets to the

right processor

Computer-Based Technology: A Servant of KM

3. We need to better understand the users and usage of CBT in KM

What works and under what conditions? What does not work, and why? What CBT advances and breakthroughs are

needed?4. We need to study outcomes of using CBT in KM

What are its competitive impacts? How can CBT be used to implement a knowledge

chain activity? How can CBT be used to enhance productivity,

agility, innovation, or reputation as a means for competitive advantage?

Knowledge Attributes

Attribute: a dimension in which different instances can vary.

Nature of Dimensions:1. Mode Type: is it explicit or implicit?2. Descriptive vs. Procedural Vs

Reasoning: does it describe characterize the stare of some world? Or

Knowledge Attributes

Nature of Dimensions:Or such as in reasoning it specifies what

action to take in a specific situation3. Domain: the subject where the knowledge

is used such as marketing engineering policy manufacturing...etc

4.Orientation: this distinguishes between knowledge directed toward subjects and

Nature of Dimensions in Knowledge

Knowledge directed toward other processes.

5. Applicability: Ranges from global to local knowledge; the knowledge applicability is determined by where can this piece of knowledge be used globally or locally.

6.Accessibility: we measure this by:- Clarity: is it easily understandable.

Accessibility Measuring

- Meaning: must make sense- Relevance: must be useful to the

situation in which we are trying to resolve.

- Importance: it must be crucial for the task we are trying to accomplish.

Nature of Dimensions in Knowledge

7.Validity and source: the knowledge should me accurate and correct. It must be consistent and helps deliver results.

8. Immediacy, Age: Knowledge should be known to be current or was it acquired in the past. Also, knowledge will range from old established to new knowledge.

Conclusion

- Investigation of knowledge has occupied mankind for years.

- It is part of the knowledge development cycle to keep investigating knowledge and seeking new evidence

- The best example of development of knowledge is the development of the scientific theory

Conclusion

The most reliable way to enhance the creditability of a theory is to try to prove it wrong and the more scientists and knowledge seekers fail to do so the more the scientific theory becomes accurate and widely-accepted as a dependable piece of knowledge.