![Questions Contact me: [email_address] 94906537 (In Hong Kong until January 2) +61414685581 (In Sydney) Fax: +61 2 821 259 38 Introduction Epistemology Ontology Methodology Epistemology Ontology Methodology Epistemology Ontology Methodology Epistemology Ontology Methodology Epistemology Ontology Methodology Epistemology Ontology Epistemology Ontology Epistemology Ontology Epistemology Ontology Epistemology Ontology Epistemology Epistemology Epistemology Ontology Conclusions Questions Methodology](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/polyupresentation-091217214359-phpapp02/85/Knowledge-management-and-business-process-management-39-320.jpg)
Knowledge management and business process management
- 1. A framework for the improvement of knowledge intense business processes Peter Dalmaris 13-12-2005 Room BC412 Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering Polytechnic University of Hong Kong
- 2. What is the KBPI framework? K nowledge- B ased P rocess I mprovement Ontology Methodology Conclusions Questions Introduction Epistemology The KBPI framework is a tool for the improvement of knowledge-intense business processes. It is based on Karl Popper’s evolutionary epistemology; this provides the theoretical foundations. It uses a business process ontology; this provides a language for describing business processes. It applies an improvement methodology; this provides the practical steps of improvement.
- 3. What is the KBPI framework? K nowledge- B ased P rocess I mprovement Ontology Methodology Conclusions Questions Introduction Epistemology
- 4. How does it work? Targets knowledge-intense business processes I.e. Loan approvement or R&D processes Analyses its current knowledge-related attributes Identifies areas of possible improvement Proposes a plan for improving performance by improving the management of process knowledge Ontology Methodology Conclusions Questions Introduction Epistemology
- 5. What is a knowledge-intense business process? Ontology Methodology Conclusions Questions Introduction Epistemology Eppler, DMJ, Seifried, PM & Ropnack, A 1999, 'Improving Knowledge Intensive Processes through an Enterprise Knowledge Medium', SIGCPR'99 , ACM, New Orleans, USA, pp. 222-30 Process complexity: High in process steps, involved agents, interdependency, process dynamic. Process intensity: Strong in contingency, decision scope, agent innovation, half-life, agent impact, learning time.
- 6. Agenda: Discuss the components of the KBPI EPISTEMOLOGY ONTOLOGY METHODOLOGY
- 7. Why involve epistemology? What is knowledge? Where is knowledge? How is knowledge created? What about data and information? LEVEL 1: EPISTEMOLOGY Ontology Methodology Conclusions Questions Introduction Epistemology One needs to understand knowledge before speaking about knowledge. Epistemology is the branch of philosophy that studies knowledge. It answers the basic questions:
- 8. Understanding knowledge: what is it? Justified true belief. (Goldman, Nonaka and Takeuchi) Understanding based on experience. (James 1907) Knowledge can be thought of as the body of understandings, generalizations, and abstractions that we carry with us on a permanent or semi-permanent basis and apply to interpret and manage the world around us ... we will consider knowledge to be the collection of mental units of all kinds that provides us with understanding and insights. (Wiig 1998) TOO ABSTRACT – TOO GENERAL LEVEL 1: EPISTEMOLOGY Ontology Methodology Conclusions Questions Introduction Epistemology
- 9. Understanding knowledge. What is it? My definition: Knowledge is solutions to problems Heavily influenced by Karl Popper’s evolutionary epistemology LEVEL 1: EPISTEMOLOGY Ontology Methodology Conclusions Questions Introduction Epistemology Problems drive knowledge creation knowledge consists of the solutions that drove its creation!
- 10. Understanding knowledge. What is it? Knowledge is solutions to problems. Therefore: 1. Enable POP in your Gmail account. 2. Open Netscape Mail 7.x. 3. Click 'Edit,' and select 'Mail & Newsgroups Account Settings...' 4. Click 'Add Account...,' and click 'OK.' Knowledge Humidity:57% Wind:NNW/14 km/h Visibility:9.00 km Dewpoint:14° Barometer: Unknown Sunrise:6:36 Sunset17:40 Information 1 gctgtcagaa aacaataaca gcagtgagaa tgaacgcact taaataaaag ctcgtgtcta 61 gagtctctcc ttttataggc ctttcatgca aataaagaat tcaaaatatc cagctctgat 121 tgggcaatgt gttagtgacg catacatgta aaatagcctt caccttattt cctttctaat 181 tggttggctc gtcaaagaac aattttaacc aatcaaattg cgcctttcac aattctaccg 241 atgactataa ctagcttctt attcctccat cgagcccatt ctttttcttt attcagtgga 301 ttgttagttc ttctgctgtt aggaagccac tatgtctgga cgtggaaagc aaggcggcaa Data LEVEL 1: EPISTEMOLOGY Ontology Methodology Conclusions Questions Introduction Epistemology … in all cases, knowledge, information and data must be considered in context .
- 11. Understanding knowledge. Where is it? Popper proposed 3 ontological worlds of human experience: LEVEL 1: EPISTEMOLOGY Ontology Methodology Conclusions Questions Introduction Epistemology WORLD 1 : The world of material objects. Trees, chairs, our bodies belong here. WORLD 2 : The world of mental states. Beliefs, dispositions, pleasure and dislikes belong here. WORLD 3 : The world of books, words, statements and other such immaterial human creations. Theories, arguments, symphonies and paintings belong here. Immaterial but objective Immaterial but subjective Material
- 12. Understanding knowledge. Where is it? Diagram used with permission from Dr Joe Firestone, © 2004 KMCI Popper’s 3 ontological worlds LEVEL 1: EPISTEMOLOGY Ontology Methodology Conclusions Questions Introduction Epistemology
- 13. Understanding knowledge. How is it created? Popper’s tetradic schema P: a problem proposition TT: a tentative theory (solution) EE: error elimination (finding problems with the P and the TT) LEVEL 1: EPISTEMOLOGY Ontology Methodology Conclusions Questions Introduction Epistemology
- 14. Understanding knowledge. No knowledge is perfect Popper’s tetradic schema is based on the tradition of fallibilism . Fallibilism : The idea that while universal knowledge claims cannot be confirmed or verified by empirical testing, they can be falsified, but also not with certainty. Firestone, J., McElroy, M., 2003, Key Issues in the New Knowledge Management, page 228 Socrates: All I know is that I know nothing Popper: There are no authoritative sources of knowledge, and no ‘source’ is particularly reliable. LEVEL 1: EPISTEMOLOGY Ontology Methodology Conclusions Questions Introduction Epistemology
- 15. Understanding knowledge. Data and information. TOO ABSTRACT – TOO GENERAL LEVEL 1: EPISTEMOLOGY Ontology Methodology Conclusions Questions Introduction Epistemology
- 16. What is knowledge management? Knowledge management is the managerial activity charged with the responsibility of managing the organisational knowledge life-cycle in support of the organisation’s objectives and business processes. LEVEL 1: EPISTEMOLOGY Ontology Methodology Conclusions Questions Introduction Epistemology Epistemology
- 17. Epistemological assumptions LEVEL 1: EPISTEMOLOGY Most knowledge useful to business processes can be objectified Knowledge can become separated from its creator Knowledge must be challenged relentlessly Fallibilism There is no perfect knowledge Less emphasis on the knower More emphasis on the knowledge objects (world 3) Of course, personal (world 2) knowledge are still very important Ontology Methodology Conclusions Questions Introduction Epistemology Epistemology
- 18. Discuss the components of the KBPI EPISTEMOLOGY ONTOLOGY METHODOLOGY
- 19. The business process ontology. What is ontology? LEVEL 2: ONTOLOGY Introduction Epistemology Epistemology Methodology Conclusions Questions Ontology Tom Gruber, http://www-ksl.stanford.edu/kst/what-is-an-ontology.html An ontology defines the vocabulary with which queries and assertions are exchanged among agents. Ontological commitments are agreements to use the shared vocabulary in a coherent and consistent manner. A commitment to a common ontology is a guarantee of consistency, but not completeness , with respect to queries and assertions using the vocabulary defined in the ontology. In Information Science , an ontology is the product of an attempt to formulate an exhaustive and rigorous conceptual schema about a domain. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ontology_(computer_science)
- 20. Difference between taxonomy and ontology. LEVEL 2: ONTOLOGY Introduction Epistemology Epistemology Methodology Conclusions Questions Ontology Taxonomy is the science of classification – or a classification In Information Science , an ontology is the product of an attempt to formulate an exhaustive and rigorous conceptual schema about a domain. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ontology_(computer_science) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxonomy
- 21. The business process ontology. Why ontology? LEVEL 2: ONTOLOGY An ontology provides a formal conceptual schema/model of a given domain. We need a formal description of a business process before we can do any work We need a vocabulary and syntax before we can communicate. Introduction Epistemology Epistemology Methodology Conclusions Questions Ontology I needed a way to formally describe knowledge-intense business processes.
- 22. Business process ontology. Current revision. LEVEL 2: ONTOLOGY Introduction Methodology Conclusions Questions Epistemology Epistemology Ontology
- 23. Definitions (partial) Knowledge object: A knowledge object is knowledge that has been objectified and exists in world three. In organisations, such knowledge objects are strategic plans, product specifications, marketing ideas etc. Knowledge Path: A Knowledge Path is concerned with the set of functions and their sequence of execution that perform some desired knowledge processing on a knowledge object. This knowledge processing may be an intermediate or a final deliverable of a knowledge-intensive business process. Knowledge Transaction: Knowledge transactions refer to the exchange of knowledge objects between actors within a business process. The word 'actor' is used here in its broad sense to mean humans or machines that can be receivers or transmitters of the knowledge objects. When a knowledge object is transferred from one actor to another, a transaction occurs. LEVEL 2: ONTOLOGY Introduction Methodology Conclusions Questions Epistemology Epistemology Ontology
- 24. Abstract classes Knowledge Object types Structural Functional Environmental Etc. Knowledge Process types Transaction Types Containers and Media Medium Types Used in support of the normal classes. LEVEL 2: ONTOLOGY Introduction Epistemology Methodology Conclusions Questions Epistemology Epistemology Ontology
- 25. Discuss the components of the KBPI EPISTEMOLOGY ONTOLOGY METHODOLOGY
- 26. Why methodology? LEVEL 3: METHODOLOGY Introduction Epistemology Ontology Conclusions Questions Epistemology Epistemology Epistemology Ontology Methodology I need a recipe of “how to improve a business process”. This recipe should tell me how to: Collect the data that describes the process Analyse the data Produce the results … all in a systematic and disciplined way.
- 27. The KBPI method LEVEL 3: METHODOLOGY Introduction Epistemology Ontology Conclusions Questions Epistemology Epistemology Epistemology Ontology Methodology
- 28. Audit procedure LEVEL 3: METHODOLOGY Introduction Epistemology Ontology Conclusions Questions Epistemology Ontology Epistemology Ontology Epistemology Epistemology Epistemology Ontology Methodology Audit
- 29. Analysis: two levels LEVEL 3: METHODOLOGY Introduction Epistemology Ontology Conclusions Questions Epistemology Ontology Epistemology Epistemology Epistemology Ontology Methodology
- 30. Function level procedure LEVEL 3: METHODOLOGY Epistemology Ontology Conclusions Questions Epistemology Ontology Epistemology Epistemology Epistemology Ontology Methodology
- 31. Process level procedure LEVEL 3: METHODOLOGY Epistemology Ontology Conclusions Questions Epistemology Ontology Epistemology Epistemology Epistemology Ontology Methodology
- 32. Tools used LEVEL 3: METHODOLOGY Epistemology Ontology Conclusions Questions Epistemology Ontology Epistemology Epistemology Epistemology Ontology Methodology Protégé, an open-source ontology editor For capturing and organising the process audit data. For enforcing the process ontology MS Visio For visualising the process model Uses standard BPML notation developed by BPMI.org For visualising some of the instances of the business ontology
- 33. Tools: Protégé ontology editor LEVEL 3: METHODOLOGY Introduction Epistemology Ontology Conclusions Questions Epistemology Ontology Epistemology Ontology Epistemology Ontology Epistemology Epistemology Epistemology Ontology Methodology
- 34. Tools: Graphic modeller LEVEL 3: METHODOLOGY Introduction Epistemology Ontology Conclusions Questions Epistemology Ontology Epistemology Ontology Epistemology Ontology Epistemology Ontology Epistemology Epistemology Epistemology Ontology Methodology
- 35. Concluding remark 1: Innovation Innovation is in the application of an evolutionary epistemology. I now have a better idea of what knowledge is. Innovation is in the use of an ontology in business processes. I can now describe knowledge-intense business processes using a formal language Introduction Epistemology Ontology Methodology Conclusions Questions Epistemology Ontology Epistemology Ontology Epistemology Ontology Epistemology Ontology Epistemology Ontology Epistemology Epistemology Epistemology Ontology Methodology
- 36. Concluding remark 2: Business ontology The business ontology will be improved with time. An improved business ontology will allow for a more precise definition of the business process This will allow for more accurate analysis and tentative solutions (improvement recommendations) Introduction Epistemology Ontology Methodology Questions Epistemology Ontology Methodology Epistemology Ontology Epistemology Ontology Epistemology Ontology Epistemology Ontology Epistemology Ontology Epistemology Epistemology Epistemology Ontology Conclusions Methodology
- 37. Concluding remark 3: Tools Much of the methodology can be automated/facilitated with appropriate use of tools. The KBPI based on the use of Protégé is a first step towards a knowledge engineering software suite. The second (small) step is the extension of Protégé to automate part of the analysis procedures. I am working on this now (in my spare time). The third step is a secret. Introduction Epistemology Ontology Methodology Questions Epistemology Ontology Methodology Epistemology Ontology Methodology Epistemology Ontology Epistemology Ontology Epistemology Ontology Epistemology Ontology Epistemology Ontology Epistemology Epistemology Epistemology Ontology Conclusions Methodology
- 38. Thanks to: Socrates of Athens , and Sir Karl R. Popper for their clarity and wisdom Dr Eric Tsui for his advice over the years and invitation to PolyU Dr Ken Dovey (University of Technology, Syndey) , Dr Bill Hall (Tenix Defence, Melbourne) , Dr Bob Smith (Tall Tree Labs) My dissertation examiners for their valuable critique towards eliminating my errors. Introduction Epistemology Ontology Methodology Questions Epistemology Ontology Methodology Epistemology Ontology Methodology Epistemology Ontology Methodology Epistemology Ontology Epistemology Ontology Epistemology Ontology Epistemology Ontology Epistemology Ontology Epistemology Epistemology Epistemology Ontology Conclusions Methodology
- 39. Questions Contact me: [email_address] 94906537 (In Hong Kong until January 2) +61414685581 (In Sydney) Fax: +61 2 821 259 38 Introduction Epistemology Ontology Methodology Epistemology Ontology Methodology Epistemology Ontology Methodology Epistemology Ontology Methodology Epistemology Ontology Methodology Epistemology Ontology Epistemology Ontology Epistemology Ontology Epistemology Ontology Epistemology Ontology Epistemology Epistemology Epistemology Ontology Conclusions Questions Methodology
Editor's Notes
- #4: This is the central topic of the presentation. Explain what this diagram is about. The rest of the presentation will include topics in relation to the three layers from bottom to top.
- #8: These questions fuel much of the epistemology adopted here.
- #9: Popular definitions are not usable.
- #10: Also talk about Popper’s evolutionary epistemology – how organisms are problem solvers and problem seekers. As they solve problems they create knowledge.