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Revision as of 07:25, 28 October 2013
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Contents
Definition
Knowledge map is an overview of knowledge assets in an organization. It shows the distribution and correlation of knowledge as well as provides navigation for potential users so that they can find desired knowledge properly.
Summary
Knowledge map was proposed by B. C. Brookes in 1980's. It is a useful tool in the field of knowledge management which facilitates tacit knowledge mining and the understanding of existing knowledge assets. Users will be able to navigate in a knowledge base more easily with the help of a detailed knowledge map. There are several types of knowledge map, one of which also can be used as a tool for personal knowledge management.
Description
Overview
Knowledge map is the output of knowledge mapping which is a process to determine where knowledge assets are in an organization and how knowledge flows operate within the organization. The most important aspects of knowledge can be illustrated by using a knowledge map. Knowledge mapping involves such activities as data gathering, survey, exploring, conversation, gap analysis and synthesis. It's fundamental work and also an infrastructure of knowledge management which should be done in an early phase and needs continuous maintenance. Knowledge map usually does not contain concrete knowledge, but it is knowledge itself. (See Fig. 1)
Explicit knowledge implies declared knowledge (i.e. knowledge that is conscious to the knowledge bearer). Explicit knowledge is why it is not a problem for the employee to tell about rules and obviously learned facts. Very often this knowledge is already written down in books. Such a tool is helpful in the transfer of knowledge from departing employees to their successors (see Fig. 4).
The functionalities of knowledge map
Knowledge map has the following functions:
- Indicate the location of knowledge assets in an organization: The basic function of knowledge map is to tell users where they can get knowledge and to provide navigation for them. Similar to information explosion, sometimes there is excessive knowledge in an organization, which is over the limit for a person to handle. In spite of search engines, knowledge map can be a good manner to retrieve knowledge in a logical way.
- Help to discover tacit knowledge in an organization: With the overview picture of knowledge assets in an organization, it is more likely to discover tacit knowledge in certain fields. Behind the corelation of knowledge, there might be some experts and knowledge owners from whom tacit knowledge can be captured.
- Improve the self-learning ability in an organization and guide newcomers: Users(or employees) can learn new things by navigating in a knowledge map. Moreover, knowledge map is greatly helpful to newcomers and let them get into their roles quickly.
- As a summary list of knowledge assets in an organization: Knowledge map can be regard as a summary list of knowledge assets in an organization, which helps to evaluate the current status and maturity of knowledge management.
Types of knowledge maps
There are at least three types of knowledge maps:
- Concept-oriented knowledge map, also can be considered as "taxonomy", which is a hierarchical structure to categorize a body of information or knowledge. This type of knowledge map is often used in knowledge base or content management systems. (See Fig. 2)
- Process-oriented knowledge map, uses business processes in an organization to make connections among related knowledge. Users can follow the processes and use the handy knowledge by means of a process-oriented knowledge map.
- Social-oriented knowledge map, shows the social relationship of users(or employees) as well as their expertise and competencies in a knowledge map.
References
[1] Development of Knowledge Portals for Nuclear Power Plants
