Preface for the Third Edition - Read

314 B. Concepts and Theories
Pull
context-related
refinement of
information
context-related
acquisition of
information
Push
knowledge worker / knowledge manager
Workflow Management explication and maintenance of knowledge
context of
tasks/processes
context of topics
/ themes
FIGURE B-54. Task-oriented architecture for KMS 509
context management
information sources
knowledge management
enterprise model
organizational knowledge
information model
description of information sources
knowledge base
Vendor-specific architectures. Vendors of KMS publish white papers describing
their perspective on knowledge management and place their tools in a KM architecture
that regularly pays attention to the ICT infrastructure already available in
the organizations 510 .
Figure B-55 shows the simplest form of such an architecture. The KMS is just
moved in between a standard Web browser and relevant data and document sources
that exist in an organization. This approach is the traditional middleware approach
that can be found in many KMS implementations.
Comprehensive KM suites comprise an often large number of modules offering
functions such as text mining, tools for semantic integration of meta-data on data
and documents, a search engine, visualization, administration of users and privileges,
publishing and reporting.
509. Source: Apitz et al. 2002, 33.
510. See e.g., Baubin/Wirtz 1996, 139 for Accenture’s Knowledge XChange, see Sippach et
al. 1999, 65f for Multimedia Software GmbH’s Intranet Knowledge Management System;
see also the white papers on the homepages of KMS vendors: e.g., of the Empolis
Knowledge Management Suite (Empolis), Hummingbird KM suite (Hummingbird,
now Open Text), Hyperwave Information Server (Hyperwave), Intraspect 4
(Intraspect) or Livelink (Open Text). More recently, vendors modularize their offerings
and package these modules according to application scenarios or concrete business
needs for which the platform is used. Knowledge management is one of those application
scenarios. For a more detailed analysis of Open Text Livelink see section 7.4.9 -
“Example: Open Text Livelink” on page 336.