Knowledge mapping
Contents
Definition
Knowledge mapping is The process of creating a knowledge map
Summary
Knowledge mapping is a mapping process which creates a map of a selected knowledge domain. Knowledge mapping may be used as a tool to facilitate knowledge processes or business processes, e.g. evaluating the risk of knowledge loss. Knowledge mapping may be performed by just one person of his personal knowledge or on the level of the whole organisation or anything in between. In addition to a creating a knowledge map, learning on individual and organisational level is an outcome of knowledge mapping.
Description
Overview
Knowledge mapping is a mapping process which can be used for managing knowledge or knowledge assets of an organization. The process of knowledge mapping involves defining the knowledge domain to be mapped and the relationships within the domain and creating a symbolic representation of this. The output of knowledge mapping is a knowledge map. The exact form of the output and the suitable mapping process depend on the objective of creating the knowledge map. Knowledge mapping may concentrate on the current situation or have a future oriented view. It may involve the knowledge of one individual or knowledge of a team or knowledge of the whole organisation. Knowledge mapping can be used as a tool in several situations, e.g. determining knowledge loss risks or knowledge gaps or when facilitating knowledge processes.
Knowledge processes in knowledge mapping
Knowledge mapping may involve several knowledge processes:
- Finding: Finding relevant knowledge is usually necessary during the mapping process
- Codification: Knowledge mapping involves codifying knowledge and codification is usually one of the objectives of mapping.
- Combination: As knowledge mapping involves creating structure within the selected knowledge domain, combination of knowledge is necessary. Knowledge map itself combines the knowledge included in it.
- Creation: Knowledge mapping creates new knowledge. Merely creating the connections between the elements of the knowledge map is new knowledge.
- Disposal: As knowledge mapping creates logic within the selected knowledge domain, it is possible that during this process knowledge which needs to be disposed is recognised.
- Learning: Participants of the mapping process learn from each other and from the mapping. Also the whole organisation may learn from the process. Learning may be an objective of the mapping process.
- Maintenance: Knowledge mapping keeps knowledge in good condition and improves its usability.
- Sharing: During the mapping process, knowledge is shared between the participants
- Transformation: Mapping transforms implicit knowledge to explicit knowledge.
- Validation: As knowledge mapping organises knowledge and creates structure within it, it provides a possibility for validating the content as well.
Different ways of mapping in practice
Examples of different ways of mapping [2]:
- Automated and dynamic mapping by the computer (such as self-organizing maps)
- Semi-automatic mapping (automatically assembled and then optimized by analysts)
- Maps that are designed once by domain and mapping experts and then used in the same way by all users
- Maps that are iteratively created, modified, or extended by the map user(s) themselves (community generated maps)
Case studies
Reference [1] provides on example of a knowledge mapping process on an organizational level.
References
[1] Day, J., How Knowledge Mapping is Being Used to Integrate Plans for Safe and Reliable Operations, In International Conference on Human Resource Development for Nuclear Power Programmes: Building and Sustaining Capacity Strategies for Education and Training, Networking and Knowledge Management, IAEA CN‐215, 2014, pp. 167-169.
[2] Eppler M., A Process-Based Classification of Knowledge Maps and Application Examples, Knowledge and Process Management, Volume 15 Number 1 pp 59–71 (2008), http://lpis.csd.auth.gr/mtpx/km/material/knowledge%20maps.pdf
