Value of Taxonomies in Knowledge Management

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Value of Taxonomies in Knowledge Management

• Joe Schehr
• VP Knowledge Management and
• Technology Solutions
• LexisNexis

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A few definitions

• Taxonomy - A hierarchically structured list of
  controlled terms or phrases.
• Thesaurus A network of term relationships
  (broader, narrower, synonymous, related)
• Indexing Assigning terms/phrases to document
  entities

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Definition
Knowledge management is the art or science of
collecting organizational data and, by
recognizing and understanding relationships and
patterns, turning it into usable, accessible
information and valuable knowledge.
(Computerworld, October 22, 2001)
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Hypotheses

• Knowledge management cannot happen without
  effective indexing
• Indexing is not effective without a taxonomy or
  some form of a controlled terms list (e.g. a
  thesaurus)

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Enterprise KM Solutions
Workflow - key elements
Manage Content
Publish Content
Use Content
Taxonomies and Indexing (effectively applied
across each of these workflow elements) enable
them to succeed.
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KM Solution Elements

• People should be involved in creating and
  maintaining the taxonomy.
• The taxonomy should reflect the vocabulary of the
  people

PROCESS

• Indexing should be integrated naturally into the
  workflow process.

PEOPLE
CONTENT

• Technology should enable taxonomy
  creation/maintenance and indexing.
• Technology should enable the use of the taxonomy
  to manage content.

• If content is indexed, then its potential for
  reuse is increased.
• Common indexing across internal and external
  content is valuable.

TECHNOLOGY
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KM Critical Success Factors

• Organizing/classifying content
• Finding content
• Sharing content

Indexing and Taxonomies apply across each of
these factors.
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Design your own solution CUSTOM NEWS ALERTS,
SEARCH FORMS AND MORE
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Conclusion

• Knowledge management cannot happen without
  effective indexing
• Indexing is not effective without a taxonomy or
  some form of a controlled terms list (e.g. a
  thesaurus)

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