Presenting my PhD thesis ideas to a meeting at Hong Kong Polytechnic University in Novermber 2005

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

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.

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!

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

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

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

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

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