Is Knowledge Management real? LO19428

W.M. Deijmann (winfried@universal.nl)
Wed, 7 Oct 1998 22:44:35 +0200

Replying to: Is Knowledge Management real? LO19392

I copied the section from Anko Gils original post.......

- -------------------- ABOUT KNOWLEDGE----------------------------

RULE 1 amend this section whenever you feel like it. Then copy the
complete section into your email.

RULE 2 keep arguments and motivations excluded from this section.

DATA is objective fragmented perception about the world. 'spanner' is a
subjective notion. The picture of a spanner is objective data. 'This is a
spanner' is a concept that mentally has been accepted. So is 'This is a
nut'.

INFORMATION is written or spoken data in context, described using 'place',
'time' and 'action'. 'The spanner is used to manipulate the nut' is
information when it is described in the context of 'where', when' and 'by
whom'.

CONCEPT is an individualized notion

CONCLUSION = INFORMATION + CONCEPT = insight = knowledge. 'Spanners can be
used to crack nuts'

KNOWLEDGE is a (temporary) result of a person's mental activity to match
objective Information (= perceptions) with abstract subjective concepts (=
thoughts)

KNOWLEDGE CREATION is a person's attempt to arrive at a conclusion (=
knowledge)

SHARED KNOWLEDGE CREATION is a group's attempt to arrive at (temporary)
accepted conclusions

KM means knowledge management = an empty containernotion that only gets a
meaning when it is filled with information and used to gain knowledge that
can have a purpose for others in other situations than mine/yours/ours.

Facilitating that knowledge is a set of actions that can be created and
shared by more people in different time frames and places if we are able
to make objective observations, combine them with concepts, give the
obtained conclusions a purposeful meaning AND are able to find and use the
right means to facilitate it.

PATH OF KNOWLEDGE: human mental activity to arrive at a conclusion by
matching percepts and concepts until he/she/we have a feeling of
'rightness'/ 'truth'

PATH OF ACTION: human mental activity to come to a decision by matching
subjective intentions with objective means until he/she/they feel that a
specific decision feels 'good'.

SOLUTION: a situational match of a 'right' conclusion with a 'good'
decision that gives a feeling of 'beauty' / 'justice'

FEELINGS: blending of not yet christalized thinking plus not yet realized
will' In KM-processes they have an indispensable compass and signal
function.

----------------------------------------------------------------

Wow! This was exciting!

When I read Anko's message (and Rick's idea) I became enthusiastic for his
proposition. The lines in the section above are a result of four hours
thinking, writing, reflecting, changing sentences and words, compairising
with the original message, questioning my own understanding, thinking
about observations that confirm my thoughts, almost giving up after two
hours, questioning myself for the purpose of all this, getting flashes of
insight, losing track and finely finishing with these words when I felt
that it was enough and satisfied with the results of my efforts. To me the
contents in the section above makes sense. It brought me one small step
further on my path of knowledge and on my path of action. I have regrouped
my conceptual christals, my observations and my former conclusions. At
this moment I have this feeling of 'rightness' and 'goodness'.

It is a sad thing that when I will hit the 'send now' button only DATA and
INFORMATION will reach you, but not my feelings. They are a part of me, so
are 'rightness', 'beautyness' and 'goodness'. Knowledge cannot be stored,
transported or shared by software or e-mail, that is my (temporary?)
conclusion.

greetings

Winfried Deijmann

-- 

Winfried M. Deijmann - Deijmann & Partners - Zutphen - The Netherlands Artists, Consultants and Facilitators for Organizational Learning, Leadership and Action Learning Events Het Zwanevlot 37, NL 7206 CB Zutphen, The Netherlands <Winfried@universal.nl> Phone: +31-(0)575-522076 mobile: +31-(0)54 94 71 27 Homepage: http://www.come.to/dialoog

"An educated mind is useless without a focussed will and dangerous without a loving heart" (unknown source)

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