Posted by Kees de Vos on August 04, 1999 at 07:55:11:

In Reply to: knowledge worth posted by Ralf Jungkunz on August 04, 1999 at 06:24:41:

Hi Ralph,

I think the value of knowledge depends on context, not time. If a certain context changes over time, than the value of its context-specific knowledge changes with it.

E.g. a person with extensive OLD knowledge of Cobol and "application design in the 80's" regains much of the value of his/her knowledge when the context of the Millenium Bug is considered.

So in my view IT'S THE CONTEXT THAT HAS A SHORT HALF-LIFE, not knowledge.

Another simple example: being from Holland you learn to ride a bike at an early age. This knowledge you will carry with you your whole life. Once you learn to drive a car, DOES this has an impact on your knowledge of riding bikes? I don't think so, however, your new knowledge of riding a car also changes the context (transportation) in which the knowledge of riding a bike is valued. You are now able to travel a thousand miles. In this context the knowledge of riding a bike is not very high. However if your car breaks down and you need to go 25 miles than the knowledge of riding a bike again has great value.

So in my opinion, the context in IT might change faster than in science and engineering, but the knowledge one has acquired might still be valuable if you choose a different context.

Hope this helps.

Best Regards,

Kees de Vos.

• De Vos Knowledge Management Repository

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Follow Ups:

• Re: The half-life of context, not knowledge John Tieso 13:56:10 8/09/99 (3)
  • Re: The half-life of context, not knowledge Daan de Koning 08:48:09 8/15/99 (2)
    • Re: The half-life of context, not knowledge rdw 10:23:20 8/15/99 (1)
      • Wise, wiser, wisest or too smart for their own good? Martyn R Jones 18:21:55 8/15/99 (0)

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