MIS 2000

Class 13

Knowledge Processes &

Knowledge Work Systems

Updated Feb. 2015

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Outline

• Importance of knowledge

• Knowledge worker

• Knowledge concept & types

• Knowledge management process

• Knowledge Works Systems (KWS)

• Knowledge culture

• Summary

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Importance of Knowledge

• Why do you study?

• Some companies thrive on knowledge (3M, Accenture, Microsoft, Apple). New products materialize new knowledge.

• Some successful companies get overrun by competition because they neglected to advance product knowledge.

• The same applies to individual professionals.

• Knowledge rocks! Without knowledge you wont’ be able to “get” any information.

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Knowledge and Occupations

• Knowledge worker is a professional that intensely applies (uses) domain knowledge at work and/or generates it (analysts, R+D).

• In contrast,

– clerk mostly processes data (collection, formatting entering in forms or IS, running IS)

– manager mostly interprets documents (gets informed)

Manipulate/process data

Interprets documents and analysis to draw

information

Apply knowledge on

solving biz problem

Produce biz documents

Create analysis, research

Clerk Manager Professional

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• Knowledge refers to understanding what something is, why something is, and how to do something:

- What: concepts, concepts’ relationships, taxonomies

- Know-how (procedures): How-to do something,

analysis/synthesis, how to generate new knowledge

- Why: understanding cause-effect relationships (special relationship)

Knowledge

• Knowledge acquisition is incremental• Knowledge is never complete, or 100% correct

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Explicit • Can be communicated• Definitions, taxonomies, theories, procedures, cases

Tacit• Difficult to communicate• Experiential, analysis & synthesis

skills• Mgt. goal to extract it, holders of

tacit knowledge may resist

Three Knowledge Taxonomies

• Source view:* Theoretical (science, theories) vs. Experiential knowledge (practical, personal, via doing)

• Communication view:

• Economic view: Human Capital (in people) vs.

Structural Capital (in things, including technology) • IS can be used for documenting and/or

communicating all forms of knowledge but tacit.*

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Knowledge Management Process

• A sequence of activities from knowledge generation to discarding. The process keeps repeating.

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Knowledge Work Systems (KWS)

System Gener-ate

Codify & Store

Share Utilize Update

Document Management System

yes yes yes

Case Based Reasoning System (CBRS)

yes yes yes yes yes

Expert System (ES) yes yes yes

Artificial Neural Network System (ANNS)

yes yes yes yes

The table maps KWS into steps of knowledge management process.

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KWS: Document Management System

Document Management System (DMS) = Searchable repository of documents that codify knowledge in a formal way.

Similarities with File Sharing System, a type of GSS. DMS is different in knowledge content and in formal codification applied.

Used in corporate learning centers, and by individuals and groups in their regular job.

DMS is a standard system in consulting firms (e.g., Accenture).

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• KWS that codifies the expertise of people in the form of if-then rules.

• Used in account auditing, medical diagnosing, troubleshooting of machinery, health care (Medical underwriting system at Blue Cross), financial industry (CLUES system for loan underwriting), oil & mining.

• Benefit: Expert knowledge shared with non-experts.

UserInterface

Inference EngineCreates reasoning path by

reading K-base anduser’s inputs

Knowledge Base (K-Base)If-then rules linked to

represent expert knowledge

More on expert systems...

Expert System

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Case-Based Reasoning (CBR): Represents knowledge as cases – descriptions of problems with solutions (like in law).

CBS systems are used in help desks, conflict resolution, professional problem solving that cannot be reduced to if-then rules, instructional systems (teaching how to do something – procedural knowledge).

Procedure of using CBR system involves user’s input of keywords and the system’s search for the best fit between the input and documents that may help in solving the user’s problem. New knowledge may also result from using CBR system.

KWS: Case-Based Reasoning System

Mhmmm… an interesting

case, indeed!

Case Base (descriptions of problems,

prob. solving processes, and solutions)

UserInterface

Index

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Artificial Neural Network (ANN) System

• ANN System simulates human brain’s cells (neurons) and connections.

• Used for pattern recognition (text, image, voice).

• Connection patterns get created, which allows ANN System to make some inferences.

• The inferences are represented in form of graphics, numerical figures, text, etc.

ANN with 3 layers of “neurons”

Hidden layer strengthens connections between APPLE and COMPUTER.

Therefore, the text is about high-tech part of California’s economy and not about agriculture.

APPLE

COMP-UTER

FRUIT

APPLE COMP.

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Organizational Culture and Knowledge

Knowledge culture systematically supports the entire knowledge process. Examples: Accenture, 3M, Microsoft…

Beliefs and behaviors related to knowledge at Accenture:

o Beliefs & practices on generation & sharing of knowledge: Knowledge should be continually created and shared.

o Beliefs on role of knowledge in business: knowledge should contribute directly to profit objectives.

o Assumptions about purpose KWS: KWS should enable storing and efficient access to knowledge content, and contribute directly to profitability.

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Knowledge Culture

• Knowledge culture may be facilitated by teamwork – important

in knowledge creation and particularly sharing. May help

uncovering tacit knowledge.

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Summary

• Knowledge worker is a professional that intensely applies/generates knowledge at work.

• Knowledge refers to understanding what something is, why something is, and how to do something. Develops gradually and is never perfect.

• Knowledge kinds: Theoretical & practical; explicit & implicit; memorized & materialized.

• Knowledge mgt. process is cyclical and includes generation, codifying/storing, sharing, utilizing, & updating/discarding.

• Knowledge work systems (KWS) studied are Artificial Neural Network, Document Management System, Expert System, & Case-Based Reasoning System. They support different phases of knowledge process (slide 7).

• Any company should pay attention to managing knowledge. Knowledge culture exists in a company that systematically supports entire knowledge management process (e.g., Accenture).

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