Design issues for agent-based resource locator systems

While knowledge is viewed by many as an asset, it is often difficult to locate particularitems within a large electronic corpus. This paper presents an agent based framework for the location of resources to resolve a specific query, and considers the associated design issue. Aspects of the work presented complements current research into both expertise finders and recommender systems. The essential issues for the proposed design are scalability, together ith the ability to learn and adapt to changing resources. As knowledge is often implicit within electronic resources, and therefore difficult to locate, we have proposed the use of ontologies, to extract the semantics and infer meaning to obtain the results required. We explore the use of communities of practice, applying ontology-based networks, and e-mail message exchanges to aid the resource discovery process

Knowledge Transfer Needs and Methods

INE/AUTC 12.3

Information Outlook, October 2006

Volume 10, Issue 10https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/sla_io_2006/1009/thumbnail.jp

Potential for leverage between the quality management and knowledge management professional communities : an intellectual capital mapping

This research describes the problems facing two important professional communities, Quality Management (QM) and Knowledge Management (KM), which face multiple challenges in their efforts to impact the organisations in which they operate and contribute significantly to their performance and financial results. The two communities are positioned at very different points in their maturity life cycle. While QM is an aging community that is trying to regain its relevancy, the KM community is still in its infancy, and is struggling to mature. Many practitioners and academics consider both to be "over promising and under delivering". The aim of this research is to explore how the two communities can enhance their effectiveness. As a theoretical framework the author used the concept of Intellectual Capital, which is usually used in the context of formal organisations, and applied it to the case of professional communities. The hypothesis states that the two communities have complementary Intellectual Capitals, i. e. that the intangible assets of each can be shared and exchanged through different patterns of interaction. An investigation was conducted into whether the flows of such intangible assets between Quality Management (QM) and Knowledge Management (KM) can increase their organisational effectiveness. The research surveyed the scientific as well as professional literature and classified the evidence on QM/KM interactions into twelve patterns that cover the spectrum, from complete ignorance of each other to full co-operation. Two case studies are explored, where explicit efforts to encourage flows of Intellectual Capital were demonstrated, one at a company level and the other at a national level. A unique methodology and visual tool, to map the Intellectual Capital of professional communities, was developed and used to draw a generic map of the complementary ICs of QM and KM and the potential flows between them, as perceived by a diverse body of experts from both communities. Finally, a series of (computer aided) focus groups were held with professionals. Based on triangulation of the data between the 14 expert interviews, 2 in-depth case studies, 68 focus group attendees and the literature, the following contributions to knowledge were identified: 0 Creation of a new scheme to classify interactions between professional communities. O The application of the Intellectual Capital concept to professional communities. Q New insights into the situation of QM and KM communities using the framework of Intellectual Capital, and the complementary nature of their intangible assets. Q New perspective on flows of Intellectual Capital between different entities (in this case professional communities) as a way to increase the effectiveness of both. QA new methodology to self-assess and map Intellectual Capital

BlogForever D3.2: Interoperability Prospects

This report evaluates the interoperability prospects of the BlogForever platform. Therefore, existing interoperability models are reviewed, a Delphi study to identify crucial aspects for the interoperability of web archives and digital libraries is conducted, technical interoperability standards and protocols are reviewed regarding their relevance for BlogForever, a simple approach to consider interoperability in specific usage scenarios is proposed, and a tangible approach to develop a succession plan that would allow a reliable transfer of content from the current digital archive to other digital repositories is presented

Integrated use of technologies and techniques for construction knowledge management

The last two decades have witnessed a significant increase in discussions about the different dimensions of knowledge and knowledge management (KM). This is especially true in the construction context. Many factors have contributed to this growing interest including globalisation, increased competition, diffusion of new ICTs (information and communication technologies), and new procurement routes, among others. There are a range of techniques and technologies that can be used for knowledge management (KM) in construction organisations. The use of techniques for KM is not new, but many technologies for KM are fairly new and still evolving. This paper begins with a review of different KM techniques and technologies and then reports the findings of case studies of selected UK construction organisations, carried out with the aim of establishing what tools are currently being used in UK construction organisations to support knowledge processes. Case study findings indicate that most organisations do not adopt a structured approach for selecting KM technologies and techniques. The use of KM techniques is more evident compared to KM technologies. There is also reluctance among construction companies to invest in highly specialised KM technologies. The high costs of specialist KM technologies are viewed as the barrier to their adoption. In conclusion, the paper advocates integrated use of KM techniques and technologies in construction organisations

Information evaluation: empirical investigations in engineering organisations

The management of information in engineering organizations is facing a particular challenge due to the ever-increasing volume of information needs to be dealt with. It has been recognized that an effective methodology is required to evaluate information in order to avoid information overload and to retain the right information for reuse. By whatever approaches, information evaluation judgments are made in those engineering organizations in order to support businesses decisions. Investigating those practical methodologies would benefit the overall information evaluation research. This paper addresses this practical information evaluation issue firstly by briefly reviewing the idea of information evaluation, the definition of value, and related research work on the value of information in various areas. Then a series of industrial empirical investigation activities, based on interviews in engineering organizations, are introduced. The evaluation approaches in those organizations are analyzed and compared according to the nature of each of the organizations. The current practices are then summarized. Finally, several further issues including the impact of the newly developed information evaluation methodologies and the implementation issues associated with this evaluation assessment method are raised

Web Usability Testing Guidelines - Incorporate Usability Testing Application

The prototype of web usability testing application is an application that will be used by the developer and evaluator to check and verify the usability of the corporate web pages or sites. The application will consist of usability test that will incorporate three main elements of web site; web design, web navigation and web functions. The first project objective is to help the web developer to ensure the usability of their web site by using the developed prototype. The next objective is to gather technical data or recommendations from the user to be incorporated in the prototype application. The technical data will represent the elements that most of users need in the web site. The scope of this project is about identifying the usability components under the three major elements of web site which is web design, web navigation and web function. The compilation of the components will be the guideline incorporated in the prototype application. The prototype will be developed and used to test the usability of the web site. For the success of the project, the basic System Development Life Cycle methodology that is Waterfall Model will be used whereby it has five phases; planning, analysis, design, implementation and support. The product of the project will lead to build a prototype of web usability testing application that can be used throughout the web development process and to check the usability of the web from time to time

Philanthropy: Current Context - Issues, Actors and Instruments

This report attempts to provide an overview of philanthropy and the 'philanthropic ecosystem' that has evolved over the recent decade. Special focus of the report is on international development philanthropy. It is relatively broad in scope and aims to be of use for all practitioners in the fundraising and philanthropy field. However, it cannot claim to be exhaustive and to cover each one of the examined topics sufficiently. Its aim is to raise questions and provide a basis for discussion first and foremost.The special focus on international development philanthropy brings certain challenges with it, as it is a topic that is not easily summarised in a couple of bullet points and conflicting opinions are as present as in any discussion that deals with the interaction of the developed and developing world, and especially the emancipation of the developing world from the 'North'