Effective Integration of Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning into Knowledge Management Structures

Support for knowledge management (KM) requires mechanisms for creation, mapping and transference of knowledge. Many organizations use computer tools, like knowledge mapping tools, knowledge repositories, tools to support communities of practice and computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL), to achieve these goals. In particular, CSCL can support knowledge transfer at the same time that it improves the process of creating new knowledge. However, whole CSCL potential to transfer knowledge and foment learning is not being used adequately, mainly because of the lack of appropriate integration with other KM tools. In fact, there is a lack of guidance on how to effectively integrate CSCL into KM and how to evaluate the benefits of this integration. This chapter fills in this gap by proposing a model to improve KM through the consistent and effective integration of CSCL into the KM structure of organizations. It also describes a framework to evaluate the results of this integration.

Amalgamating Ontological Modeling with Bluetooth Service Discovery

This chapter introduces ontology conceptual modeling for discovering Bluetooth Services in m-commerce. Discovery services in a dynamic environment, such as Bluetooth, can be a challenge because Bluetooth is unlike any wired network, as there is no need to physically attach cables to the devices you are communicating with. Regular Bluetooth service discovery protocol may be inadequate to match different service naming attributes. To support the matching mechanism and allow more organized service discovery, service relation ontology is proposed to extend and enhance the hierarchical structure introduced in the Bluetooth specification. Frame-based and XML-based approaches are used to codify the service relation ontology, which represents the relations of service concepts. A semantic matching process is introduced to facilitate inexact matching, which leads to a situation in which a simple positive or negative response can be meaningful. The Bluetooth ontology modeling represents a broad range of service descriptions and information. The semantic matching process improves the quality of service discovery. We believe that Bluetooth wireless networks’ amalgamation with the ontology conceptual modeling paradigm is a necessary component of creating a new path in the field of m-commerce infrastructures.

Awareness Matters in Virtual Communities

A methodology is introduced in this chapter for sharing the contextual knowledge in virtual communities. Context is represented by a set of semantic concepts and their relationships that form specific collaborative business processes within the virtual community. Two sets of objects/concepts are identified: (i) objects that make up a community member’s actual contextual knowledge, and (ii) objects that make up the contextual knowledge expected from a community member, by a specific task object that the member performs within the community, that are sufficient to enable the member to perform the task and/or to participate in relevant interactions. The excess of the objects in (ii) compared to the objects in (i) is identified. These objects need to be put within the focus of the community member in order to enable him/her to successfully get involved in various tasks within the community.

Enterprise Portals and Knowledge Management Processes

Many portal products have been marketed as knowledge management tools, implying that benefits of knowledge management can be achieved by implementing a portal. Our research suggests that portal products are not able to fully support the requirements of knowledge management functions. Products reviewed were strong in providing personalization, content management, folder-sharing and search or retrieval services. However, they lacked in services such as categorization, workflow, document management, collaboration, and business intelligence. In order to improve on the support for knowledge management, portals should be able to handle multimedia, incorporate metadata or taxonomy into their content and provide tools for workflow and mining. Enterprise portals might not fully support the processes within the knowledge management life cycle, but they remain as the only technology with the most potential to serve as the main infrastructure for knowledge management.

Making Knowledge Management System an Effective Tool for Learning and Training

In view of the need of using knowledge management (KM) systems for learning and training, this chapter discusses six major design factors of such KM systems based on learning literatures, namely media of representation, multiple perspectives, complexity, user control, online support and navigation aids. Their implications toward learning and training effectiveness as well as various strategies and implementation methods are investigated in four categories: content, motivation, support and accessibility. It is believed that by considering the factors involved and their potential impacts on learning in the design of KM systems, the effectiveness of using these systems for learning, training and problem solving will be significantly improved.

Knowledge Capture Between Consultancies and Freelance Subcontractors

This chapter focuses on a perceived knowledge gap created whenever consultancy organizations sub-contract work to freelance consultants in the field. These field consultants often gain valuable knowledge from sub-contracted assignments, but this is not subsequently captured by their sponsors. From the perspective of any consultancy organization, the knowledge process to capture such local knowledge is vital.

The Impact of Informal Networks on Knowledge Management Strategy

The application of a knowledge management strategy does not take place in a vacuum. Successfully meeting objectives of a knowledge management strategy may depend not only on the efficacy of the strategy itself or of the team that is responsible for its implementation, but also on the environment into which it is being introduced. Research carried out with an application service provider (ASP) indicates that existing informal communication networks will continue to operate independently of any formal strategy introduced. The significance of informal knowledge sharing activity may be in its incompatibility, or possible conflict, with any formal structures that are introduced. The success of any formally instigated knowledge management strategy might therefore depend on an understanding of the existence and nature of already active informal knowledge sharing structures. It is important for management to recognize the existence of such informal networks and to understand how they might affect the success of any formally introduced knowledge management strategy. In this paper the existence and reasons for informal networks and their subsequent effects on formal knowledge management policy are examined.

Promoting Organizational Knowledge Sharing

This chapter examines knowledge sharing and management within an organization. More importantly, it addresses what organizations can do to promote knowledge sharing in order to gain a competitive edge. Included are the results of a survey that explores employees’ willingness to share knowledge. Today, more than ever, organizations must efficiently manage their knowledge assets in order to remain competitive. Some knowledge management (KM) initiatives have failed, while others have succeeded. A key factor associated with successfully managing knowledge is creating an environment that encourages individuals to share their knowledge.

Web Service Modeling Framework for the Enhanced Data Warehouse

This chapter presents how Web services architecture can be leveraged to extend an existing system to an open and flexible platform. It reviews crucial issues related to modularization, properties of the Web services, integration of heterogeneous services and incorporating new services. We describe the modeling framework used, which is the Web Service Modeling Framework (WSMF). As a case we show how the enhanced data warehouse system was remodeled in order to transform it from a closed solution to an open Web services-based system called the enhanced Knowledge Warehouse (eKW). We analyze eKW as a Web service and show how eKW conforms to the eight layers of functionality in Web services. We also speculate about the future of eKW in the semantic web and innovations it can contribute to knowledge management. In the semantic Web eDW should be used as a source of knowledge, hence the name “knowledge warehouse”.

The Organizational Characteristics of Knowledge-Centricity

Knowledge focused organizations are knowledge-centric, a term that embodies the creation and management of knowledge but embedded as an integral element of an organization’s strategy and performance. By devising an organizational characteristics matrix, this chapter identifies a number of essential and desirable features that comprise a knowledge-centric business. The matrix is then applied to a case study company, Black and Decker, and more specifically its European Design Center, to examine the extent to which the organization can be viewed as knowledge-centric. While the use of this first-iteration matrix is a useful mechanism for gauging knowledge-centricity, the chapter concludes with a critique of its potential limitations, with suggestions as to how it might be refined further to give a more illuminating assessment of an organization’s knowledge capabilities.