Knowledge-based knowledge management in the reengineering domain

A fundamental problem with knowledge management is the information technology (IT) employed to enable knowledge work appears to target data and information, as opposed to knowledge itself. In contrast, knowledge-based systems (KBS) maintain an explicit and direct focus on knowledge. The research described in this article is focused on innovating knowledge management through KBS technology. We refer to this KBS-enabled transformation of knowledge work as knowledge-based knowledge management. Drawing from the recent literature, we identify a number of key activities associated with knowledge management to establish a set of requirements for knowledge management support. We match these requirements with textbook capabilities of intelligent systems and use this analysis to evaluate KOPeR, a KBS employed to automate and support knowledge management in the reengineering domain. We find KOPeR possesses the capabilities required for knowledge management support. And its field application, as part of a major reengineering engagement, reveals four important knowledge effects enabled by this KBS. From this study, we also find KOPeR to be effective in its automation and support of key knowledge management activities. And through its successful use and knowledge effects in this study, we conclude that KBS can be developed and employed for effective knowledge management support. Published by Elsevier Science B.V.