Proceedings of the 12th European Conference on Knowledge ...

Jamal El-Den and Xin Zhou
includes defining <strong>the</strong> scope and objectives <strong>of</strong> reengineering project and finding problematic
processes, <strong>the</strong>n going through a learning process (with your customers, your employees, your
competitors and non-competitors, and with new technology). What <strong>the</strong> BPR team needs within this
phase is make a fully clear understanding about <strong>the</strong> valued knowledge which is transferred from
accumulative tacit knowledge through a collaborative environment. The o<strong>the</strong>r purpose <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> use <strong>of</strong>
collaborative tools within <strong>the</strong> BPR process is that will result in faster, better and cheaper solutions at
this stage. Additionally, in each <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> phases, effective use <strong>of</strong> collaborative methods and tools can
shorten <strong>the</strong> project schedule and improve overall results (BPR online). Ga<strong>the</strong>ring and analyzing
information about <strong>the</strong> performance and structure <strong>of</strong> a process is an important step in identifying and
selecting process for redesign (Attaran, 2003). KM applications and associated functionality for
business intelligence provide a means for ga<strong>the</strong>ring and organizing data, information, and knowledge
in internal sources.
Collaborative tools (groupware) are computer-based tools that help people work toge<strong>the</strong>r and share
information. They allow for virtual on-line meetings and data sharing and support knowledge
externalization within KM lifecycle. A table clearly demonstrates some examples <strong>of</strong> collaborative tools:
Examples <strong>of</strong> Generic Collaborative Tools
Tool Description
Chat (Audio and text) Use this to conduct toll-free conversations. No need to
wait for something to arrive in your mailbox.
Whiteboard
Bulletin board
Video
Discussion groups (newsgroups)
File sharing tools
Presentation tools
Application sharing
Text tools
Permits real time display <strong>of</strong> drawings, pictures or
documents for group discussion and comment.
Participants can annotate in real time as well.
Used to post notices and facilitate discussions on any
topic.
Use video at a desktop computer or a video
teleconferencing center to see <strong>the</strong> person or group with
whom you are working virtually.
Topics are posted to a website for discussion and
comment where participants can follow a line <strong>of</strong>
discussion on a topic.
Virtual file cabinets allow information to be stored on web
servers, and are available to anyone having access to <strong>the</strong>
site and electronic permission to use <strong>the</strong> files.
These are used in a virtual auditorium and allow lectures
and briefings to be given to an audience.
Using this tool, an entire team can use an application
running on one computer to revise documents.
Allows live text input and editing by group members. Once
complete, <strong>the</strong> text document can be copied into word
processing s<strong>of</strong>tware.
Email The most popular way <strong>of</strong> outrunning "snail mail."
Persistent capability
Instant messaging
Table 1: Examples <strong>of</strong> Generic Collaborative Tools (BPR online)
This is <strong>the</strong> ability to preserve files, briefings or o<strong>the</strong>r team/
project material for future reference. Properly organized, it
becomes a knowledge management device and is
invaluable to a long term effort.
Most popularly known as "text chat," this allows real time
exchange <strong>of</strong> notes and messages.
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