Knowledge Study Methodology

There is a well tested methodology that is associated with Knowledge Structure Mapping. It has been evolving since the late 1990(s) and has become business focused since 2005.

A very brief summary of the method can be shown within this diagram.

The diagram shows that there are at least two sessions with a full group of experts from the knowledge area followed by a set of individual interviews and periodic validation sessions with a 'Knowledge Leader'. A final validation is carried out before the map is laid out correctly, analysis carried out and a full report compiled and delivered.

This process greatly simplifies the methodology but there are a few very important points to note:

• The Knowledge Structure Map MUST be elicited correctly, even if it is not complete.
• Definitions and summaries for each knowledge element should always be elicited.
• A full set of parameter values should be provided for every knowledge node apart from the knowledge focus node.

Eliciting the map correctly means that it must be true to say that in order to fully understand knowledge 'x', a person must already know knowledge 'y' and 'z'.

Time spent making sure that the map and source data is as good as possible means that all subsequent analysis and decision support will be based on reasonable assumptions.

The saying "Garbage in - Garbage out" is no less true of this methodology.

At present, the full methodology is not available on this web site.