Mathemagenic

I've got a very scary feeling that with my personal KM model I reinvent activity theory... This wouldn't be a big surprise since both activity theory and my (mainly tacit) understanding of how people learn and develop have the same roots in the work of Vygotsky.

Just a result of simple exercise of thinking if I could use a triangle instead of three circles...

And one more paper for I-KNOW04 :)

Finding in-house knowledge: patterns and implications written with Janine Swaak, Masja Kempen and Mark Graner

Abstract. In this paper we present the results of two studies aimed at understanding how employees find knowledge available in their organisation. Data about knowledge awareness and knowledge finding strategies were collected in two research organisations using interviews and on-line questionnaires. The results of the two studies demonstrate interesting patterns. First, we found that although people say that they are aware of knowledge in their organisation, they also indicate that the same knowledge is developed at different places in their organisations. Second, asking others and searching own mailbox and other own digital and paper archives – and not organisation-wide repositories – are most popular ways for finding in-house knowledge. The results are discussed in terms of implications from the perspective of employees and from the perspective of organisations.

This paper opens a bit of our research on knowledge mapping. This work is behind most of my thinking about information vs. knowledge, searching, sharing and asking questions, the role of context and awareness, and effects of transparency...

If you want something shorter than 8 pages long text :), there is a small essay in 5 May issue of AOK EZine (thanks to Jack Vinson for inviting) - The need to know . It is based on some of our research findings and touches my favourite asking questions theme...

And - promise - I don't have any more hidden papers to reveal within the next month :)))