A Multi-Aspect Architecture with Co-alignment between Layers for Intra-Organizational Knowledge Networking Purposes

Abstract

In this paper, architecture is proposed for the new emerging concept of knowledge networks. This architecture is based on a multi-aspect view to the problem of starting such a network in an organization. By integrating infrastructure, knowledge and business layers mounted on two aspects of human-based and organizational supportive conditions in a layered architecture, we proposed a novel architecture that contains intra-layer built-in assessment mechanisms as well. These assessment mechanisms ensure the gradual refinement of the network as the structure of each layer becomes fixed. In this paper, it has been discussed that how a multi-layer architecture with minimum amount of dependency among layers (that has the ability of interaction in business and knowledge layers) may facilitate knowledge management processes. The architecture can also give some guidelines on how to start such networks in inter-organizational level .One of the main applications of this architecture is to propose appropriate guidelines for the development of required sub-systems of intra­organizational knowledge networks. Therefore, at the end of this paper, the method of extracting these guidelines on the establishment of one of the key sub-systems for managing explicit organizational knowledge (e.g. Document Management system) is explained in details. These recommendations are based on a well-known standard of this domain. As the proposed extraction method is originated from the layers independency and self-assessment mechanism between layers, it can purposefully be re-used for collaboration/experience/process management systems as well.

Keywords

• architecture
• knowledge network
• knowledge management
• business strategies