KNOWLEDGE CREATION AND

KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT
ARCHITECTURE

Lecture Three
(Chapter 3, Notes;
Chapter 4, Textbook)
Chapter 3: Knowledge Creation and Knowledge Architecture

Review of Lecture 2
Challenges
in building KM Systems
Compare KMSLC and CSLC
Knowledge Management System Life
Cycle (8 Stages)

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Chapter 3: Knowledge Creation and Knowledge Architecture

Todays Topics
Knowledge Creation and Sharing
Knowledge Infrastructure
Knowledge Management Architecture
Build versus Buy Decision

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Chapter 3: Knowledge Creation and Knowledge Architecture

KNOWLEDGE CREATION
Dynamic activity that can
enhance organization
success and economic
well-being
Driver of innovation
Involves knowledge
acquisition, selection,
generation and sharing
Maturation - translates
experience into knowledge
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 Chapter 3: Knowledge Creation and Knowledge Architecture

Impediments to Knowledge
Sharing
Compensation Personality
Organizational
Recognition culture
Ability utilization
Vocational
Creativity
reinforcers Knowledge
Good work environment sharing
Autonomy
Job security Attitude
Moral values Company
strategies and
Advancement policies
Variety Work Norms
Achievement
Independence
Social status
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Chapter 3: Knowledge Creation and Knowledge Architecture

Nonakas Model of Knowledge

Creation and Transformation
TACIT TO TACIT TACIT TO EXPLICIT
(SOCIALIZATION) (EXTERNALIZATION)

E.G., INDIVIDUAL AND/OR TEAM E.G., DOCUMENT A

MEETINGS BRAINSTORMING SESSION

EXPLICIT TO TACIT EXPLICIT TO EXPLICIT

(INTERNALIZATION) (COMBINATION)

E.G., LEARN FROM A REPORT E.G., CREATE A WEBSITE

AND DEDUCE NEW IDEAS FROM SOME FORM OF
EXPLICIT KNOWLEDGE

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 Chapter 3: Knowledge Creation and Knowledge Architecture

KNOWLEDGE
INFRASTRUCTURE
People core: Evaluate employee profiles
Content core: Identify knowledge centers
Technical core: The total technology
required to operate the knowledge
environment
People Content

Technology
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Chapter 3: Knowledge Creation and Knowledge Architecture

Identifying Knowledge Centers

Job openings, Competition data,

Benefits Sales volume,
Leader sales
information
Human
Resources
Sales

Customer
Strategies Service
Tools Marketing
R&D
Complaint rate,
Advertising
Satisfaction
information

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 Chapter 3: Knowledge Creation and Knowledge Architecture

Stages of KMSLC
Evaluate Existing
Infrastructure
Form the KM Team
Knowledge Capture

Iterative Rapid Design KM Blueprint
Prototyping
Verify and validate the KM
System

Implement the KM System

Manage Change and

Rewards Structure

Post-system evaluation
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Chapter 3: Knowledge Creation and Knowledge Architecture
.....

Layers of KM Architecture
1 User Interface
(Web browser software installed on each users PC)

Authorized access control

2 (e.g., security, passwords, firewalls, authentication)

Collaborative intelligence and filtering

3 (intelligent agents, network mining, customization, personalization)

Knowledge-enabling applications
4 (customized applications, skills directories, videoconferencing, decision support systems,
group decision support systems tools)

Transport
5
(e-mail, Internet/Web site, TCP/IP protocol to manage traffic flow)

Middleware
6 (specialized software for network management, security, etc.)

The Physical Layer

(repositories, cables)
7

Databases Legacy applications Groupware Data warehousing

(e.g., payroll) (document exchange, (data cleansing,
collaboration) data mining)
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Chapter 3: Knowledge Creation and Knowledge Architecture

The User Interface (Layer 1)

User interface
design focuses
on consistency,
relevancy, visual
clarity, navigation,
and usability

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Chapter 3: Knowledge Creation and Knowledge Architecture

Authorized Access Control

(Layer 2)
Internet Extranet
Intranet
Public Clients
Company Suppliers
Vendors
Partners
Customers
Human resource
News/events
information
Product information
Marketing
Production
E-commerce information Sales information

Careers Sales Collaboration/cooper

information ation

Strategic plans
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Chapter 3: Knowledge Creation and Knowledge Architecture

Collaborative Intelligence and

Filtering (Layer 3)
Personalized views
based on stored
knowledge
Groupware to facilitate
both sync- and
asynchronous
interaction and
discussion
Intelligent agents
reduce search time for
needed information
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 Chapter 3: Knowledge Creation and Knowledge Architecture

Knowledge-Enabling
Application (Layer 4)
Referred to as value-added
layer
Creates a competitive edge
for the learning organization
Provides knowledge bases,
discussion databases,
automation tools, etc.
Ultimate goal: show how
knowledge sharing could
improve the employees 3-14
Chapter 3: Knowledge Creation and Knowledge Architecture

Transport Layer (Layer 5)

Most technical layer to
implement
Includes LANs, WANs,
intranets, extranets, and the
Internet
Ensures that the company
will become a network of
relationships
Considers multimedia, URLs,
graphics, connectivity speeds,
and bandwidths
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Chapter 3: Knowledge Creation and Knowledge Architecture

Middleware (Layer 6)
Focus on interfacing with
legacy systems and
programs residing on
other platforms
Designer should address
databases and applications
with which KM system
interfaces
Makes it possible to connect
between old and new data
formats
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Chapter 3: Knowledge Creation and Knowledge Architecture

Physical Repositories (Layer 7)

Bottom layer in the KM
architecture
Represents the physical
layer where repositories
are installed
Includes intelligent data
warehouses, legacy
applications, operational
databases, and special
applications for security
and traffic management
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Chapter 3: Knowledge Creation and Knowledge Architecture

Build In-House, Buy, or

Outsource?
Trend is toward ready-to-use,
generalized software packages
Outsourcing is also a trend,
releasing technological design
to outsiders
Regardless of choice, it is
important to set criteria for the
selection
Question of who owns the KM
system should be seriously
considered
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Chapter 3: Knowledge Creation and Knowledge Architecture

End of Lecture Three

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Chapter 3: Knowledge Creation and Knowledge Architecture

In Class Discussion Exercise

Assume you are the person
responsible for making
decision on a KM project
How would you decide to
build or buy?
Based on the key elements
compared, and
The current state of your
organization preparedness
(thinking in terms of maturity
in layers of KM architecture)
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Chapter 3: Knowledge Creation and Knowledge Architecture

CHALLENGES IN BUILDING KM
SYSTEMS
Culture
getting people to share knowledge
Knowledge evaluation
assessing the worth of knowledge
across the firm
Knowledge processing
documenting how decisions are
reached
Knowledge implementation
organizing knowledge and integrating
it with the processing strategy for final
deployment
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Chapter 3: Knowledge Creation and Knowledge Architecture

Conventional System KM System

vs.
Life Cycle Life Cycle

Recognition of Need and Evaluate Existing

Feasibility Study Infrastructure

Software Requirements Form the KM Team

Specifications
Knowledge Capture
Logical Design (master Iterative
design plan)
Design KM Blueprint
Physical Design (coding)
Verify and validate the KM
System
Testing
Iterative
Implement the KM System
Implementation (file
conversion, user training)
Manage Change and
Rewards Structure
Operations and Maintenance

Post-system evaluation
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Chapter 3: Knowledge Creation and Knowledge Architecture

Users Versus Experts

Attribute User Expert
Dependence on system High Low to nil

Cooperation Usually cooperative Cooperation not

required

Tolerance for ambiguity Low High

Knowledge of problem High Average/low

Contribution to system Information Knowledge/expertise

System user Yes No

Availability for system

builder Readily available Not readily available

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Chapter 3: Knowledge Creation and Knowledge Architecture

KM System Development
Life Cycle (8 Stages)
Evaluate existing infrastructure
Form the KM team
Knowledge capture
Design KM blueprint (master plan)
Test the KM system
Implement the KM system
Manage change and reward structure
Post-system evaluation

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 Chapter 3: Knowledge Creation and Knowledge Architecture

Build vs. Buying

Option Cost Time Factor Customization
In-house Usually high Much lower than High, depending
development development by on quality of
user staff

Development Usually low Depends on skills High to the user

by end users set, system priority, specifications
and so forth

Outsourcing Medium to high Shorter than High

in-house

Off-the-shelf Low to medium Nil Usually up to

Solution 80% usable
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Chapter 3: Knowledge Creation and Knowledge Architecture

Knowledge Sharing Via

Teamwork
Initial
knowledge

Outcome
is realized

Team performs
a job Outcome
compared
to action
New knowledge
reusable by same
team on next job
New
Knowledge experience/
captured and knowledge
codified in a gained
form usable
by others
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