Knowledge Parameters
Parameter values reflect the opinion of the experts interviewed regarding various aspects of the knowledge within the Knowledge Structure. A table of parameters used in analysis is shown on the RISK page.
A more detailed explanation of the meaning of each parameter used in this study is provided below.
Importance
Importance means how important a particular knowledge element on the map is, with reference to the main focus of the study or the top node. This could mean importance to the success or failure of the application of the knowledge area. It may be easier for some experts to provide opinion if the alternative term critical is used. This means how critical or essential (crucial) is the application of this particular piece of knowledge to the success or validity of the knowledge area being studied, the top node.
Numeric values are assigned using the following guidance
0 = not important at all | 2 = very slightly important | 7 = very important | 10 = absolutely critical
Recovery
In a typical business or organisational knowledge study, recovery means how difficult would the knowledge be to replace or recover if it were lost to the organisation. In some studies, such as the study of conceptual or personal knowledge rather than applied or business knowledge, this question may need to be answered on a more personal basis. For instance, If I suddenly lost the knowledge of how to make a cup of tea but retained other knowledge, how difficult would it be to get this knowledge back again or learn it again.
Numeric values are assigned using the following guidance
0 = easy to replace | 2 = slightly difficult to replace | 7 = very difficult to replace | 10 = almost impossible to replace
Study-Exp
Study vs Experience relates to the way that an expert would typically acquire a particular piece of knowledge. Some knowledge being learned through study and other knowledge requiring experience and practice. The parameter reflects the balance between the two extremes of all study and all experience. In some cases, an alternative term tacit may be used. Some organisations use this term with reference to experience based rather than study based knowledge.
Numeric values are assigned using the following guidance
0 = learned through study | 2 = mostly learned by study | 7 = mostly learned from experience | 10 = learned from experience
Known By
In a typical business study, known by is discussed with reference to a pre-defined group of people. This group may be all of the people working in the knowledge area. Known by reflects the percentage of this reference group that are thought to know the specific piece of knowledge FULLY. In some cases, it is not possible to identify a useful group for the question related to this parameter. In such cases a more general term well known may be used. In some cases an expert may be asked to judge how well known, as a percentage, some piece of knowledge is within a very large population.
Numeric values are assigned using the following guidance
0 = Less than 6% of the Group are Experts | 2 = Between 7% and 30% of Group are Experts | 7 = Between 60% and 85% of Group are Experts | 10 = Over 85% of the Group are Experts
Specialised
Much of the knowledge required within any knowledge area is quite general and is also used in other knowledge areas or the knowledge area itself may be very general. Alternatively, knowledge may be needed that is highly specialised and only used in very restricted circumstances or applications.
Numeric values are assigned using the following guidance
0 = generally used knowledge | 2 = knowledge mostly used generally | 7 = specialised knowledge | 10 = highly specific to one knowledge area
Stability
Technological growth is one thing that can make knowledge unstable. Knowing how to do something may regularly involve changes in tools and technique as new systems are introduced. This may be reflected, if restudied regularly, by a changing prerequisite structure for a knowledge element. The prerequisite structure itself being relatively short term knowledge yet the knowledge element in question may be a long term requirement.
Numeric values are assigned using the following guidance
0 = regularly changing knowledge | 2 = quite frequently changing knowledge | 7 = generally stable knowledge | 10 = completely stable knowledge