Posted by Martyn R Jones on September 02, 1999 at 09:56:27:

In Reply to: Seeking Posting Advice on a Unified Theory of Knowledge posted by mike cahill on September 01, 1999 at 13:43:15:

Hello,

Many years ago I was working, with some of my colleagues, on the conceptualization, design and development of a Knowledge Management system.

The system we conceptualized was to become multi-layered, multi textured, multi dimensional and multi-propertied. The objective was to create a Unified Strategy for KM.

Imagine the flow of information in a large corporation. Imagine the flow of a large river. Imagine the flow of information from external sources into the business and then imagine the flow of tributaries into our ever widening and deepening river.

Thr river reaches a fall - it could be the Niagara Falls, it could be something else - the water falls from a great height into the water below creating white water, waves and mist, a vast repository or holding area for some of the water that flows along the river.

We take a leap into the unknown and uncharted world of pseudo Shakespearian fantasizing. "This water is like information" we say, "no the water is not water unless it is used as water" others reply. More, the voices continue. "Look, water is only H2O", "now now, water is only water if we see it and hear it and taste it and smell it and touch it", "Personally, I never believed in water", "drink beer", "but don't be silly, water can only be transferred by the water utility", the sounds are eventually drowned out by the large boom of water falling on boiling, foaming water.

The spray produced from the water falling into the waterpool is highlighted knowledge with a high probability regarding its potential for use - now.

The water in the spray produced is not necessarily water that has most recently fallen into the pool.

The water that is lost is not necessarily that which is most aged or least used.

This waterfall analogy was inspired by:

Waterfall at Lu-Shan by Li Po (701-762 A.D.)

"Sunlight streams on the river stones.
From high above, the river steadily plunges --

three thousand feet of sparkling water --
the Milky Way pouring down from heaven."

Anyway ... we recreated our virtual information waterfall using some sophisticated ship anchor hardware from TI and Xerox and some equally robust software from San Diego, Mountainview and Washington (state).

We then suprimposed our organizational strategic framework onto the naturlistic object-oriented, rule managed model of the "waterfall" analogy, because this is what Drucker had alluded to in a previous talk on AI and Continuous Business Improvement in an article published possibly not by HBR. We were also heavily influenced by SDI spin-offs i.e. funny money sidelined for seriously fun projects.

The first time we were to demonstrate our findings and our proof on concept prototype ... I ...
awoke.

To be continued.

Best regards,

Martyn R Jones

• KM at the burning edge

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Follow Ups:

• the analysis of drrreams Zigmunt Freud 07:51:54 9/03/99 (0)
• Re: Waterfall mike cahill 13:15:12 9/02/99 (1)
  • Waterfalls and Core Competences Kees de Vos 06:24:16 9/03/99 (0)

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