What is Knowledge and Can it Be Managed:
As the decade, and indeed, the millenium begins to draw to a close, the promise of technology is prevalent in all we do, see, hear, and touch.
As the decade, and indeed, the millenium begins to draw to a close, the promise of technology is prevalent in all we do, see, hear, and touch. Technology is the driving force behind the stock market and therefore, the economy. The aura of the Internet has sent the value of Internet-based companies stock like EBAY, Yahoo!, and Amazon.com through the roof. And more new technologies, with additional promises are introduced almost daily. From Java to data mining to intranets to video conferencing to web casting to XML it is almost impossible to keep up, yet technology optimism is rampant.
But what does any of this have to do with "knowledge," the topic of this article? Well, there is an increasing level of hype around the term "knowledge management" these days. But what is knowledge? Furthermore, what is knowledge management and can knowledge really be managed? Let's investigate!
Several technology vendors are offering such solutions as panaceas for the business challenges of the knowledge era. Trade press coverage of the "productivity paradox" has further added to the speed of the information technology (IT) treadmill by suggesting that increasing investments in new information technologies should somehow result in improved business performance.
What is Knowledge?
Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary defines knowledge as "the fact or condition of knowing something with familiarity gained through experience or association." This seems to be a good definition of knowledge as it is universally used and accepted.
However, it begs the following question: what is meant by the term "knowing?" Once again, let's turn to Webster's. The word "know" is defined as "to perceive directly: have direct cognition of." And just for completeness sake, cognition is defined as "the act or process of knowing including both awareness and judgment."
So, according to these definitions knowledge implies cognition, and cognition implies awareness. And computers, quite obviously, do not have "awareness"-at least not yet.
The Evolution from Data to Knowledge and Beyond
The basic building block of knowledge is data. Data is a fact represented as an item or event out of context and with no relation to other things. Examples of data are 27, 010110, and JAN. Without additional details we know nothing about any of these three pieces of data. Consider:
Is 27 a number in base ten, or is it in octal (which would translate to 23 in base ten)?
If 27 is a number in base ten what does it represent? Is it an age, a dollar amount, an IQ, a shoe size, or something else entirely?
What about 010110? Is it a binary number? Or is it a representation of a date, perhaps January 1, 1910? January 1, 2010? Or something else entirely?
Finally, what does JAN represent? Is it a woman's name (or a man's name)? Or does it represent the first month of the year?
All of these are examples of data because of the lack of context.
Information, on the other hand, adds context through relationships between data, and possibly other information. Data with meta data and context makes information. The relationships may represent information, yet the relations do not actually constitute information until they are understood. Also, the relationships that represent data have a tendency to be limited in context, mostly about the past or present, with little if any implication for the future.
Knowledge adds understanding and retention to information. It is the next natural progression after information. To have "knowledge" requires information in conjunction with patterns between data, information, and other knowledge, couples it with understanding and cognition.
The final step would be to move from knowledge to wisdom. Wisdom can be thought of as knowledge applied. You may have the knowledge that fatty foods are bad for you, but if you eat it anyway, you are not wise. I predict that within the next few years some brave organization will attempt to offer wisdom management, as the natural progression from knowledge management. (Note: I do not necessarily predict they will succeed.)
What is Knowledge Management?
The cynical answer to this question would be "any product that any vendor wants to sell more copies of." As with any new term or hot topic "knowledge management" has already been co-opted by technology vendors, including both software vendors and consulting firms. Everything from document management systems to query and reporting tools to OLAP engines to repositories are being labeled as "knowledge management" tools. So, the first bit of advice you should follow is to be skeptical of all claims from all vendors promoting any knowledge management solution.
But that does not answer the question: what is "knowledge management?" Here are a few definitions I came across in industry publications and out on the web:
Knowledge management encompasses management strategies, methods, and technology for leveraging intellectual capital and know-how to achieve gains in human performance and competitiveness.
GartnerGroup, 29 August 1996, http://www.gartner.com/
Knowledge management can be defined as "the harnessing of a company's collective expertise wherever it resides and the distribution of that expertise to the right people at the right time. It's not a product but a process-the process of gathering, managing, and sharing your employees' knowledge capital."
Yes, Knowledge Can Be Managed
To accomplish knowledge management as defined above requires investment. The business strategy of the organization must acknowledge the requirement to capture knowledge and actively foster the effort. Knowledge exists in people, not technology, and as such will require a massive human effort. Technology can help to capture information, but it can not create knowledge. Useful technologies include search engines, scanning technology, optical character and voice recognition software, intelligent agents, database management systems, document management systems, and repositories.
Once the information is identified, collected, and managed, it must be transformed into knowledge. This requires classification, analysis, and synthesis. This step, too, requires human intervention. Knowledge can not be created by technology. Only a human being can render information into a format that causes it to be easily transformed into knowledge by another human being upon retrieval. Useful technologies for this phase of the knowledge management process include statistical analysis software, data mining tools, OLAP and decision support systems, AI, and data visualization tools.
The final phase is effectively communicating the captured "knowledge." I use "knowledge" in quotes because knowledge is not truly captured. Instead, what is captured is information that is more easily transformed into knowledge by the recipient. Technologies that help to facilitate communication include collaboration technology, groupware, workflow management systems, e-mail, the web, networking technology, and mobile computing. The captured "knowledge" should be easily convertible into any format preferred by the recipient (for example, word processing documents, Adobe files, text files, etc.)
But It Won't Be Easy
There are many obstacles on the path to knowledge management. Usually, the first impediment to success is dealing with the folks who have the knowledge. Many business people feel that "knowledge is power." So, if I give up my knowledge, I give up my power. If I give up my power, I am more expendable. More progressive organizations share information and knowledge more freely. This attitude needs to permeate the organization for knowledge management to succeed.
Another possible bump along the path to knowledge management implementation is lack of knowledge. Some organizations "fly by the seat of their pants" without knowing much about the competition, the market, their customers, etc. Organizations with this problem, though, will soon face greater problems than the inability to implement knowledge management.
A more frequently occurring problem is lack of time to capture the knowledge that does exist. Competitive information may exist only in the head of the sales person. But she is always on the road and needs to be closing business to make those quarterly numbers. So management may "mouth" their commitment to knowledge management, but act otherwise by encouraging immediate concerns over longer-term concerns (such as knowledge management).
Finally, the ROI on knowledge management is difficult to measure. How do you determine that something was "known" by someone quicker with knowledge management in place? And if you can determine that, how can you measure the productivity gain? These things can lead to executive-level discomfort with the costs of implementing knowledge management.
The Bottom Line
Knowledge management is over-hyped and misunderstood. It is not a technology, but an amalgamation of strategy, technology, and people. There are no panaceas where you just plug in some new technology and "bang" you have knowledge management. But the proliferation of "knowledge" throughout an organization is unquestionably a good thing. Start today to understand what it is and work toward a plan that maps out a knowledge management strategy for your organization. Or plan to lose business to those companies that do!
reference:http://www.tdan.com/view-articles/5108/
Thursday, 14 February 2008
Wednesday, 13 February 2008
Article III
What is the difference among Data, Information and Knowledge?
The words Data, Information and Knowledge are the key words in Knowledge Management, and these words are often use interchangeable with the given scenario.
Before going to know the difference among Data, Information and Knowledge it is important to know that the meaning of Data, Information and Knowledge.
What is Data?
Data is the raw material of information. It is the product of research and discovery. A single piece of data has no meaning unless the context is understood. Data needs to be transformed to information.
What is Information?
Information is a flow of messages. The patterns and relationship in the data is pointed out and discussed. The data is made informative and must be put into a context and linked like data.
What is Knowledge?
Knowledge is a multifaceted concept with multilayered meaning. The history of philosophy since the classical Greek period can be regarded as never ending search for the meaning of knowledge. [Resource]. The traditional epistemology adopts a definition of knowledge as "Justified True Belief". In theory of knowledge creation, knowledge is seen as a dynamic human process of justifying personal beliefs as part of an aspiration for the "truth". Machlup (1983) see information is a flow of messages of meanings which might add to, restructure of change knowledge.
Fig: relation among Data, Information and Knowledge
Source: The first annual symposium meaning making in organizations event 2006
Dretske (1981) offers more useful definitions. He said that, “Information is that commodity capable of yielding knowledge, and what information a signal carries is what we can learn from it. Knowledge is identified with information-produced (or sustained) belief, but the information a person receives is relative to what he or she already knows about the possibilities at the source”.
(Source: http://www.cyberartsweb.org/cpace/ht/thonglipfei/data_info.html)
Figure:Transformation of Data, Information and Knowledge Retrieved February 2, 2008 From http://www.cyberartsweb.org/cpace/ht/thonglipfei/class_fn.html
Some web definitions of Data, Information and Knowledge:
(Prof. Elsa Barber n.d) Data is the representation of concepts or other entities, fixed in or on a medium in a form suitable for communication, interpretation, or processing by human beings or by automated systems (Wellisch, 1996). Information is (1) a message used by a sender to represent one or more concepts within a communication process, intended to increase knowledge in recipients. (2) A message recorded in the text of a document. Knowledge is knowing, familiarity gained by experience; person's range of information; a theoretical or practical understanding of; the sum of what is known.
(Prof. Charles Oppenheim, Loughborough University, UK n.d) Data are raw material of information; typically numeric. Information is data which is collected together with commentary, context and analysis so as to be meaningful to others. Knowledge is a combination of information and a person's experience, intuition and expertise.
Bellow table shows various definitions of Data, Information and Knowledge from various authors.
(Source: http://csdl2.computer.org/comp/proceedings/hicss/2002/1435/04/14350104b.pdf)
By studying all these concepts in my view data, information, and knowledge is often represented as pyramid. With data at the base, data is converted to information and information converted to knowledge. For example when I am doing my under graduation in my college we have one separate department called student desk. The main duties of this department are to solve the problems of students. So the department collets the data form students every week regarding the maintaing the campus, quality of food providing in the hostel, facilities in library and laboratory and how lecturer’s helps in their studies like all. Students fill the form given by the student desk. The date taken from the student has no meaning unless the student desk arranges it in some format and add context to that data it become information. They send that information to the principal. He made decision based on that information provided by the student desk regarding the improving facilities in college and to solve the problems of the students and having that knowledge he made decisions.
In seminar all are discussed that information will come from data and information became knowledge i.e. the transformation of data, information and knowledge is one way. But I didn’t agree that because in my view data, information and knowledge related and each other and can be transfer to each other. Example in our college the data given by the students to the student desk is knowledge to the students and that is data for the student desk. Information they give to the principal is knowledge to the student desk. So the data, information, and knowledge are interchangeable. Data may be information for some one or it may be knowledge for some one and vice versa.
Reference:
http://www.cyberartsweb.org/cpace/ht/thonglipfei/data_info.html
http://csdl2.computer.org/comp/proceedings/hicss/2002/1435/04/14350104b.pdf
The words Data, Information and Knowledge are the key words in Knowledge Management, and these words are often use interchangeable with the given scenario.
Before going to know the difference among Data, Information and Knowledge it is important to know that the meaning of Data, Information and Knowledge.
What is Data?
Data is the raw material of information. It is the product of research and discovery. A single piece of data has no meaning unless the context is understood. Data needs to be transformed to information.
What is Information?
Information is a flow of messages. The patterns and relationship in the data is pointed out and discussed. The data is made informative and must be put into a context and linked like data.
What is Knowledge?
Knowledge is a multifaceted concept with multilayered meaning. The history of philosophy since the classical Greek period can be regarded as never ending search for the meaning of knowledge. [Resource]. The traditional epistemology adopts a definition of knowledge as "Justified True Belief". In theory of knowledge creation, knowledge is seen as a dynamic human process of justifying personal beliefs as part of an aspiration for the "truth". Machlup (1983) see information is a flow of messages of meanings which might add to, restructure of change knowledge.
Fig: relation among Data, Information and Knowledge
Source: The first annual symposium meaning making in organizations event 2006
Dretske (1981) offers more useful definitions. He said that, “Information is that commodity capable of yielding knowledge, and what information a signal carries is what we can learn from it. Knowledge is identified with information-produced (or sustained) belief, but the information a person receives is relative to what he or she already knows about the possibilities at the source”.
(Source: http://www.cyberartsweb.org/cpace/ht/thonglipfei/data_info.html)
Figure:Transformation of Data, Information and Knowledge Retrieved February 2, 2008 From http://www.cyberartsweb.org/cpace/ht/thonglipfei/class_fn.htmlSome web definitions of Data, Information and Knowledge:
(Prof. Elsa Barber n.d) Data is the representation of concepts or other entities, fixed in or on a medium in a form suitable for communication, interpretation, or processing by human beings or by automated systems (Wellisch, 1996). Information is (1) a message used by a sender to represent one or more concepts within a communication process, intended to increase knowledge in recipients. (2) A message recorded in the text of a document. Knowledge is knowing, familiarity gained by experience; person's range of information; a theoretical or practical understanding of; the sum of what is known.
(Prof. Charles Oppenheim, Loughborough University, UK n.d) Data are raw material of information; typically numeric. Information is data which is collected together with commentary, context and analysis so as to be meaningful to others. Knowledge is a combination of information and a person's experience, intuition and expertise.
Bellow table shows various definitions of Data, Information and Knowledge from various authors.
(Source: http://csdl2.computer.org/comp/proceedings/hicss/2002/1435/04/14350104b.pdf)By studying all these concepts in my view data, information, and knowledge is often represented as pyramid. With data at the base, data is converted to information and information converted to knowledge. For example when I am doing my under graduation in my college we have one separate department called student desk. The main duties of this department are to solve the problems of students. So the department collets the data form students every week regarding the maintaing the campus, quality of food providing in the hostel, facilities in library and laboratory and how lecturer’s helps in their studies like all. Students fill the form given by the student desk. The date taken from the student has no meaning unless the student desk arranges it in some format and add context to that data it become information. They send that information to the principal. He made decision based on that information provided by the student desk regarding the improving facilities in college and to solve the problems of the students and having that knowledge he made decisions.
In seminar all are discussed that information will come from data and information became knowledge i.e. the transformation of data, information and knowledge is one way. But I didn’t agree that because in my view data, information and knowledge related and each other and can be transfer to each other. Example in our college the data given by the students to the student desk is knowledge to the students and that is data for the student desk. Information they give to the principal is knowledge to the student desk. So the data, information, and knowledge are interchangeable. Data may be information for some one or it may be knowledge for some one and vice versa.
Reference:
http://www.cyberartsweb.org/cpace/ht/thonglipfei/data_info.html
http://csdl2.computer.org/comp/proceedings/hicss/2002/1435/04/14350104b.pdf
Knowledge Management(KM) Defination
1. Knowledge Management:
Before getting into the Knowledge Management (KM), there is a need to know what Knowledge is. Knowing is a cognizance, a conscious state of being aware or informed (having knowledge) (Oxford English Dictionary, 2002, p. 1510) beyond that which is perceived through the five senses, although it does not exclude incoming signals from the five senses. In rhetorical terms, knowing can be described as hearing beyond words, seeing beyond images, sensing beyond appearances and feeling beyond emotions. It focuses on methods to increase individual sensory capabilities and increase the ability to consciously integrate these sensory inputs with our tacit knowledge, that knowledge within each of us that is created by past learning and experiences but cannot be put into words. In other words, it is knowledge gained from experience that resides in the unconscious mind.
Knowledge is defined variously as
(i) Expertise, and skills acquired by a person through experience or education; the theoretical or practical understanding of a subject.
(ii) Knowledge is the human capacity (both potential and actual) to take effective action in varied and uncertain situations There is however no single agreed definition of knowledge presently, nor any prospect of one, and there remain numerous competing theories.
1.1. Definition of knowledge management:
(Wikipedia, 2008)The definition of KM varies. There is no single definition for Knowledge Management. Different definitions have been proposed by different authors. Knowledge management is a management theory which emerged in the 1990s. Knowledge Management (KM) compresses a range of practice used by organizations to identify, create, represent, and distribute knowledge. Many large companies have resources dedicated to Knowledge Management, often as part of ‘Information Technology’ or ‘Human Resource Management’ departments. Knowledge management programs are typically tied to organizational objectives such improved performance, competitive advantage innovation; lessons learnt transfer and the general development of collaborative practices.
1.2. Knowledge Management: the context
There is a broad range of thought on Knowledge Management with no unanimous definition. The approaches vary by author and school. Knowledge Management may be viewed from each of the following perspectives:
Techno-centric: A focus on technology, ideally those that enhance knowledge sharing/growth.
Organizational: How does the organization need to be designed to facilitate knowledge processes? Which organizations work best with what processes?
Ecological: Seeing the interaction of people, identity, knowledge and environmental factors as a adaptive system.
When I tried to find the definition of Knowledge Management on the internet, I found that most of them discussed about creating, storing, and distribution of the Knowledge. (Wigg. K, 1997)
(Mountain Quest Institute, n.d) Knowledge management is a process for optimizing the effective application of intellectual capital to achieve objectives. In an organizational setting, this would mean a systematic approach to getting an organization to make the best possible use of knowledge in implementing its mission, broadly viewed as either sustainable competitive advantage or long-term high performance. From the individual viewpoint, this can be extrapolated to mean optimizing the effective application of the individual's knowledge (their potential and actual capacity to take effective action in varied and uncertain situations) to achieve the individual's professional and personal goals.
(KMTool Community) Knowledge Management -Information or data management with the additional practice of capturing the tacit experience of the individual to be shared, used and built upon by the organization leading to increased productivity (Tacit Knowledge - Innovation, creation of new knowledge often comes from collaboration and interaction with experts. These are some of the many ways to create a culture where there is greater collaboration, team work and sharing of ideas.).
(Article 13 Co) Knowledge is a fluid mix of contextual information, values, experiences and r. For an organization this resides within employees (human capital) and represents a source of creativity, innovation and adaptability to change. Knowledge management is an explicit system to use this capital.
1.2. Knowledge Management (KM) in my perspective
KM is a systematic process of creating, organizing and developing an organization to make best use of individuals that helps in reaching the goals of organizations. The function of knowledge management is how to transform the tactic knowledge into explicit knowledge.
Example in our engineering college we have SPRINT-IT. It is both Knowledge Management system and Information system. It helps to share the ideas and views of the different student in college; it helps to gain good result in their studies as well as their future career. Information is given by the every student and it is knowledge to the each and every student in the college who access the web. Every student has permission to access the knowledge base and update the knowledge base. This contains doubts on lectures, general issues, events organized in the college, various career options after the studies and information regarding the jobs. This helps to achieve their goals through the creation and application of the relevant knowledge. This is done by motivating and inspiring the students to exploit their innovative capabilities and achieving the goals.
1.3. My reflections by reading others blogs
Kranthi in his blog he explain Knowledge management in his perspective’s it is experience, sharing of what works and what doesn’t works.
In pavan’s blog he mainly explained about the objectives of the Knowledge Management. And he given that Knowledge Management is to ensure that right information is delivered to the right person in right time.
According to munir he concluded that there is no fixed meaning for Knowledge and it varies from person to person.
1.4. References:
Wigg K. (1997), "Knowledge Management: An Introduction and Perspective", Journal of Knowledge Management, Volume1, Issue1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knowledge
http://www.gdrc.org/kmgmt/what-is-km.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knowledge_management#External_links
http://www.mountainquestinstitute.com/definitions.htm
Before getting into the Knowledge Management (KM), there is a need to know what Knowledge is. Knowing is a cognizance, a conscious state of being aware or informed (having knowledge) (Oxford English Dictionary, 2002, p. 1510) beyond that which is perceived through the five senses, although it does not exclude incoming signals from the five senses. In rhetorical terms, knowing can be described as hearing beyond words, seeing beyond images, sensing beyond appearances and feeling beyond emotions. It focuses on methods to increase individual sensory capabilities and increase the ability to consciously integrate these sensory inputs with our tacit knowledge, that knowledge within each of us that is created by past learning and experiences but cannot be put into words. In other words, it is knowledge gained from experience that resides in the unconscious mind.
Knowledge is defined variously as
(i) Expertise, and skills acquired by a person through experience or education; the theoretical or practical understanding of a subject.
(ii) Knowledge is the human capacity (both potential and actual) to take effective action in varied and uncertain situations There is however no single agreed definition of knowledge presently, nor any prospect of one, and there remain numerous competing theories.
1.1. Definition of knowledge management:
(Wikipedia, 2008)The definition of KM varies. There is no single definition for Knowledge Management. Different definitions have been proposed by different authors. Knowledge management is a management theory which emerged in the 1990s. Knowledge Management (KM) compresses a range of practice used by organizations to identify, create, represent, and distribute knowledge. Many large companies have resources dedicated to Knowledge Management, often as part of ‘Information Technology’ or ‘Human Resource Management’ departments. Knowledge management programs are typically tied to organizational objectives such improved performance, competitive advantage innovation; lessons learnt transfer and the general development of collaborative practices.
1.2. Knowledge Management: the context
There is a broad range of thought on Knowledge Management with no unanimous definition. The approaches vary by author and school. Knowledge Management may be viewed from each of the following perspectives:
Techno-centric: A focus on technology, ideally those that enhance knowledge sharing/growth.
Organizational: How does the organization need to be designed to facilitate knowledge processes? Which organizations work best with what processes?
Ecological: Seeing the interaction of people, identity, knowledge and environmental factors as a adaptive system.
When I tried to find the definition of Knowledge Management on the internet, I found that most of them discussed about creating, storing, and distribution of the Knowledge. (Wigg. K, 1997)
(Mountain Quest Institute, n.d) Knowledge management is a process for optimizing the effective application of intellectual capital to achieve objectives. In an organizational setting, this would mean a systematic approach to getting an organization to make the best possible use of knowledge in implementing its mission, broadly viewed as either sustainable competitive advantage or long-term high performance. From the individual viewpoint, this can be extrapolated to mean optimizing the effective application of the individual's knowledge (their potential and actual capacity to take effective action in varied and uncertain situations) to achieve the individual's professional and personal goals.
(KMTool Community) Knowledge Management -Information or data management with the additional practice of capturing the tacit experience of the individual to be shared, used and built upon by the organization leading to increased productivity (Tacit Knowledge - Innovation, creation of new knowledge often comes from collaboration and interaction with experts. These are some of the many ways to create a culture where there is greater collaboration, team work and sharing of ideas.).
(Article 13 Co) Knowledge is a fluid mix of contextual information, values, experiences and r. For an organization this resides within employees (human capital) and represents a source of creativity, innovation and adaptability to change. Knowledge management is an explicit system to use this capital.
1.2. Knowledge Management (KM) in my perspective
KM is a systematic process of creating, organizing and developing an organization to make best use of individuals that helps in reaching the goals of organizations. The function of knowledge management is how to transform the tactic knowledge into explicit knowledge.
Example in our engineering college we have SPRINT-IT. It is both Knowledge Management system and Information system. It helps to share the ideas and views of the different student in college; it helps to gain good result in their studies as well as their future career. Information is given by the every student and it is knowledge to the each and every student in the college who access the web. Every student has permission to access the knowledge base and update the knowledge base. This contains doubts on lectures, general issues, events organized in the college, various career options after the studies and information regarding the jobs. This helps to achieve their goals through the creation and application of the relevant knowledge. This is done by motivating and inspiring the students to exploit their innovative capabilities and achieving the goals.
1.3. My reflections by reading others blogs
Kranthi in his blog he explain Knowledge management in his perspective’s it is experience, sharing of what works and what doesn’t works.
In pavan’s blog he mainly explained about the objectives of the Knowledge Management. And he given that Knowledge Management is to ensure that right information is delivered to the right person in right time.
According to munir he concluded that there is no fixed meaning for Knowledge and it varies from person to person.
1.4. References:
Wigg K. (1997), "Knowledge Management: An Introduction and Perspective", Journal of Knowledge Management, Volume1, Issue1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knowledge
http://www.gdrc.org/kmgmt/what-is-km.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knowledge_management#External_links
http://www.mountainquestinstitute.com/definitions.htm
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