Components of Knowledge Systems
Components of a Knowledge Management System
A Knowledge Management System (KMS) refers to either a technology-based or non-technical interconnected group of functions that have behaviour that enables or facilitates either (or a combination of) the discovery, capture, integration, sharing or delivery of the knowledge required by an organisation to meet its objectives. It can comprise a part of a Knowledge Management initiative or strategy to improve the utility of an organisation’s intellectual capital.
A knowledge management system is inherently a soft open system. This means that boundaries are permeable and difficult to position. What may be useful to one person in one part of an organisation may be useless to someone else in another department. Any knowledge management initiative must therefore establish clear achievable goals that deliver benefits to the organisation, or a sub-set of the organisation, and take into account user and stakeholder requirements. The key principle is that it must be useful and solve a problem.
A successful knowledge management system is founded on a clear understanding of:
what the organisation considers to be organisational knowledge; what the organisation’s knowledge goals are; where knowledge resides in an organisation, and its form; what knowledge components must be managed; and finally the absolutely central role of people in any system.
The essential components of a Knowledge Management System can be seen in the model at
Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Components of a Knowledge Management System
The following table describes the components of a KMS.
Component
Description
1. Strategy
A KMS should be part of a strategy that identifies the key needs and issues within the organisation, and provide a framework for addressing these. 1.1. Problem
A problem or opportunity facing the organisation needs to exist. W hat particular worldview justifies the existence of a KM system?
A Knowledge Management System (KMS) refers to either a technology-based or non-technical interconnected group of functions that have behaviour that enables or facilitates either (or a combination of) the discovery, capture, integration, sharing or delivery of the knowledge required by an organisation to meet its objectives. It can comprise a part of a Knowledge Management initiative or strategy to improve the utility of an organisation’s intellectual capital.
A knowledge management system is inherently a soft open system. This means that boundaries are permeable and difficult to position. What may be useful to one person in one part of an organisation may be useless to someone else in another department. Any knowledge management initiative must therefore establish clear achievable goals that deliver benefits to the organisation, or a sub-set of the organisation, and take into account user and stakeholder requirements. The key principle is that it must be useful and solve a problem.
A successful knowledge management system is founded on a clear understanding of:
what the organisation considers to be organisational knowledge; what the organisation’s knowledge goals are; where knowledge resides in an organisation, and its form; what knowledge components must be managed; and finally the absolutely central role of people in any system.
The essential components of a Knowledge Management System can be seen in the model at
Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Components of a Knowledge Management System
The following table describes the components of a KMS.
Component
Description
1. Strategy
A KMS should be part of a strategy that identifies the key needs and issues within the organisation, and provide a framework for addressing these. 1.1. Problem
A problem or opportunity facing the organisation needs to exist. W hat particular worldview justifies the existence of a KM system?
References: Maier, R (2007): Knowledge Management Systems: Information And Communication Technologies for Knowledge Management Tiwana, A., 1999. Knowledge Management Toolkit, The: Practical Techniques for Building a Knowledge Management System, Pearson Education.