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Presented by Eric Havens, Sanusha Matthews, and Mike CopciacKnowledge and Its Attributesby Clyde W. Holsapple1Asking Webster Knowledge- the range of ones information or understandingInformation- knowledge obtained from investigation, study, or instruction..also defined as facts, data.Data-factual information used as a basis for discussion

So that leaves us with:Knowledge is a range of information, information is knowledge, information is data, and data is information.Useful definitions?

2Knowledge as Usable RepresentationsA representation is an arrangement in time/spaceEx. words in a conversation, diagrams, photographs, etc.

Newell says knowledge cannot so easily be seen, only imagined as the result of interpretive processes operating on symbolic expressions. This suggests that knowledge doesnt exist outside of the processor that perceives or has a representation that it finds to be usable.

Developed by Allen Newell. Definition-when a system has and can use a representation of something (an object, a procedure, whatever), then the system itself can also be said to have knowledge, namely, the knowledge embedded in that representation about that thing. This perspective sees knowledge as being that which is embodied in usable representations. There are two key notions in this perspective on knowledge (representation and usability)

3Knowledge as a Progression of StatesVariations in the usability of a representation(depending on processor, task, environment, etc)Six states of Knowledge proposed by Van Lohuizen1)Decision 2)Judgement3)Insight 4)Structured Information5)Information6)DataYou can see the graph of these on page 168. They are on a continuum of varying degrees of usability. As we progress from lower to higher states of knowledge, there is an increase in the relevance of knowledge with respect to accomplishing some objective (some task/action). The highest state as you see is decision, indicating a commitment take some action.4Fundamental notions with Knowledge as a Progression of States1)States of Knowledge exist2) These states form a progression from the lowest level, where usability is marginal or potenitla to higher levels where usability is clearer or more immediate.3) Knowledge States are subject to change through various kinds of processes5Production Perspective Views knowledge as existing in stocks and flows.Stock-an inventory of knowledge available to one or more processorsTwo main types of flows:Knowledge transferrable from one stock to anotherKnowledge flow from a stock into itself Old Knowledge New Knowledge x n2nd involves a processor using knowledge existing in a stock to produce new knowledge for that stock.6Knowledge Versus Information PerspectiveViews knowledge as a state in its own right, as something beyond information.The states used earlier (data, information, etc) are viewed as precursors to knowledge. Data is turned into information and information is turned into knowledge.This is in contrast to seeing knowledge as a series of states.7A note on the various perspectivesThese perspectives arent exhaustive, but can help us be familiar with some of the more common ones.Also, it may be obvious that certain authors are taken a given perspective while sometimes it may not be so apparent.Since they are perspectives, they should be viewed in terms of usefulness as opposed to correctness. (We can adapt to whichever perspective is helpful in understanding any particular aspect of knowledge handling in organizations).8Knowledge and technology1990s rise of knowledge management as a prominent field of practice, research, and study coincided with tremendous advances in computing and communication technology.There are two extreme for the relationship between technology and knowledge managementKnowledge management has nothing to do with technologyKnowledge management is all about technology9Technology is incidentalKnowledge is defined as uniquely human, which exist in the context of human interpretation and processing. Technology has no role at all in knowledge management.But if technology is eliminated, then knowledge management has the following losesKnowledge would flow via face to face meetings, physical bulletin boards, hardcopy reports and memos, surface mail, fax telephone conversation, and so forth; but groupware, email, electronic forums, computer mediated communications, workflow systems, and computer supported cooperative work would be of little relevance to knowledge work.10Technology is incidentalKnowledge repositories would include pieces of paper, briefing books, filing cabinets, traditional libraries, and memories; but digital documents, databases, web pages, and software libraries would not have a role in KM. Knowledge generation would be performed by human mind power, with the aid of pencil and paper; but solvers or spreadsheets for deriving forecast, expectations, and analyses would be out-of-bounds; rule sets, case bases, and reference engines for deriving advice would be out-of-bounds; data mining, text mining, and automated pattern recognition for knowledge discovery would be out-of-bounds.Technological means for acquiring and selecting knowledge-search engines, web crawlers, intelligent agents- would be of little importance to knowledge workers.11Technology is everythingAnother view is encompassing the lower states of information and data or seeing computer based processors as capable of interpretation and processing However if humans are eliminated then knowledge management has the following loses.Knowledge management could not have predated the advent of computer based technology, but this would ignore the long history of organizations struggling to achieve value from knowledge assets.Technology would become an end in and of itself, without attention to its consequences.Technology vendors would become the primary sources for KM solutions.

12Technology is everythingTechnology would become the starting point and driver of KM initiatives, instead of basing KM efforts on human traits and capabilities, coupled with organizational objectives.KM initiatives would concentrate on explicit knowledge, leaving the tacit mode of knowledge largely unattended.People would be seen as supporting the technology, instead of technology enabling, supplementing, complementing, or amplifying human knowledge processing abilities.13Middle pathAnother path of knowledge management can be concerned with including people, technology, organization and the fits among themWe can focus on the representation that computer based processors can utilize in accomplishing various task. The specifics on such processors and how they can be devised, improved and managed to support and facilitate the human dimension of knowledge management

14Computer based technology as a servant of knowledge managementOne way the CBT has transformed life and organization is by transforming how knowledge work is done. CBT is concerned with digital means of representation and processing knowledge CBT has transformed how individuals and organization accomplish knowledge works by amplifying complimenting leveraging and improving human knowledge handling capabilities.CBT progressed from data processing systems(1950-1960) to management information system(1960-1970) to decision support system(1970-1990) to organizational computing system(1980-1990) to ubiquitous computing(1990)

15Computer based technology as a servant of knowledge managementTechnology from a knowledge perceptive triumphs in its ability to connect more people in more ways than ever before, example email, intranet, discussion forums, chat rooms etc.CBT is increasingly becoming all about knowledge managementCBT researchers are knowledge management researchers whether they recognize it or not.There are opportunities for research that improves on current CBT forEnabling and facilitating knowledge flows among knowledge processors(human and computer based)16Computer based technology as a servant of knowledge managementSupporting and performing knowledge manipulation tasks .Assisting in the measurement, control, coordination, and leadership of knowledge and knowledge processors.Helping ensure that the right knowledge gets to the right processors in the right formats at the right times and at the right cost.To advance the field of business computing, we need to better understand the users and usage of CBT in knowledge management.What works and under what condition does it work?What does not work and why?What CBT advances and breakthroughs are needed?How do we cultivate good fits between technological infrastructure on one hand and organizational infrastructure on the other hand in knowledge based organizations?17Computer based technology as a servant of knowledge managementTo advance the business computing field, we need to study outcomes of using CBT in knowledge managementWhat are its competitive impacts?How can CBT be used to implement a knowledge chain activity?Or, in a more targeted vein, how can CBT be used to enhance productivity, agility, or reputation as a means for competitive advantage?

18Knowledge AttributesEach instance of knowledge has a point in spaceDefines what type of processors can operateDetermines of processing that can be subjected toKnowledge characteristicsMode Tacit vs. ExplicitType Descriptive vs. Procedure vs. ReasoningDomain / Orientation Subject or broad domainRelational or Relative or Self-knowledge orientationApplicability / Management / Usage

Knowledge Attributes contdApplicability / Management / UsageLocal or global applicabilityOperational or Management or Strategic planning controlProfessional or Improvement usesAccessibility / UtilityPrivately or publicly accessible or in betweenLevels of usefulness defines utility ClarityMeaningRelevanceImportanceKnowledge Attributes contdValidity / Proficiency / SourceAccuracy or consistency or confidence determines validityDegree of expertise defines proficiencyOrigin of knowledgeTemporal attributes dependent on timeImmediacy, Age, Perishability, VolatilityConclusionKnowledge ManagementMultidisciplinary field with substantial opportunityRelatively new field with multiple viewpoints & perspectivesAttributes are all potential areas of research