A Proposal for a Standard With Innovation Management System

5. Ontology-based asymmetry
Jussi Kantola and Hannu Vanharanta
The ontology-based collective perception of the domain shows the asymmetry of the knowledge of the
domain. Different ontology-based viewpoints enable solid and valid communication regarding the
knowledge domain. A well-constructed ontology enables innovation processes to be turned from
productivity-centred processes into more performance-centred achievement-oriented processes. The
starting point is always individuals who try to see the current real world from many windows and try to
use their innovation competences to create a new future. By using collective knowledge asymmetry
for innovation support, there are possibilities to find strong responsive environments with many
innovation activities (Kantola et al., 2011).
The collection of instances in the Evolute system reflects a specific management object (assets)
portfolio under scrutiny. The collection of instances forms the instance matrix (Kantola, 2009). The
instance matrix, as a function of time, describes the Management Object development in the
organization. In other words, it charts the organization’s assets over time. The instance matrix, as a
function of time, can be stated as:
ONTOLOGY identifier 1-m (individual 1 - n, instance 1 – k):
The instance matrix is useful for managers and other stakeholders since it represents the collective
mind of the target groups. It also saves the history of the organization’s assets. Figure 5 illustrates
knowledge asymmetry based on the safety culture ontology.
Figure 5: Knowledge asymmetry is the product of all instances, i.e. different viewpoints
Figure 6 illustrates dynamic knowledge asymmetry based on the safety culture ontology over five time
periods. In order to grasp our working reality, we should expand the instance matrix to cover all
relevant assets (domain ontologies). Therefore, in real life, the instance matrix will cover several
domain ontologies that provide the base for a dynamic knowledge asymmetry over certain periods of
time.
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