Know-Net Tool Features

1. Centrally managed categorisation of documents
2. Advanced Search Capabilities
3. Collaboration
4. User notification mechanisms
5. One Place knowledge entry

Centrally managed categorisation of documents

Enables the accurate categorisation and indexing of both internal and external information. Supports multiple categorisation that is centrally administered using the Know-Net Ontology Editor.

Advanced Search Capabilities

The Know-Net search facilities go beyond the standard full text search facility to provide:

• A metadata schema that itself is browsable.

  

• Searching based on the defined classification categories in a graphical manner which shall exploit the human's excellent ability to remember and deal with visual structures.

  

• Immediate feedback in the result panel thus supporting an "iterative refinement" search.

  

Collaboration

The Know-Net tool allows users to collaborate on-line at real time using Video and Audio Conferencing (using Lotus Sametime technology) or at their own pace using multiple asynchronous collaboration facilities.

User notification mechanisms

Knowledge workers do not have much time to spend seeking new items of importance that are being added to the system, on a daily basis. By clicking on 'What's New' - going to 'one place, to see what has been added' - the knowledge worker can quickly ensure that he/she is fully informed and up to date. This concept is based on the KM 'Share Model' where a knowledge worker can go to look for something when he/she wishes, as opposed to the 'Send Model' where all new notifications are 'pushed' through the e-mail to all users, adding to the e-mail traffic and e-mail overload.

In addition, and in order to embrace both models above the Know-Net tool provides email notification of 'Mandatory Readings' to the user.

One Place knowledge entry

Our research and experience shows that a typical knowledge worker is continually 'switching thoughts' from minute to minute in his/her thinking from say, client/project work - to receiving new telephone calls and new contacts/information. Currently, having to interrupt work and go to a specific application to add a contact or an idea, with current applications, can be slow and is not in line with the way our brain typically works. As a result, much valuable information gathered by the knowledge worker is not added or updated into the KM system 'because it is too much effort and I simply don't have the time'.

By clicking 'One Place' on the Know-Net Tool a listing appears, in alphabetical sequence - in one central place, of all the input forms from all the Applications that the knowledge worker uses in his/her daily work. By clicking once on the selected input form, it appears ready for entering data. The data will then be entered directly into the Application.