Title: Enabling centralised enterprise knowledge management services for the technology value chain

Authors: Jiang-Liang Hou, Amy J.C. Trappey, Charles V. Trappey

Addresses: Department of Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan. Department of Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan. Department of Management Science, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan

Abstract: Currently, most organisations still manage documents of valuable explicit knowledge using the distributed management approach and transfer them via e-mail and file transfer over the internet. Without centralisation, distributed systems often result in disorderly, inconsistent, and inaccessible management of enterprise documents. This paper presents a centralised document server concept to enable consistent and effective knowledge management (KM) services for the technology value chain. The architecture and operational mechanisms are introduced and a three-tier authorisation model consisting of the system administrator, the group administrator, and the common user is presented. Since user and file databases support the manipulation of physical documents, a database scheme is provided to demonstrate the relationship between file security control and database management. A web-based interface is developed so that all of the explicit knowledge management functions can be accessed at the client side globally. The functions of seven web-based modules in the prototype system are demonstrated and validated using an industrial case study. Under the hierarchical KM architecture, the explicit knowledge of an enterprise can be systematically maintained and traced in a shared environment with sufficient security and access control. The concept and technology of the KM service hub are essential to maintain intellectual properties in technology-oriented industries. The KM solution will improve collaboration efficiency in the global value chain.

Keywords: knowledge management; document management; explicit knowledge; service technology and management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSTM.2003.003624

International Journal of Services Technology and Management, 2003 Vol.4 No.4/5/6, pp.424 - 441

Published online: 24 Sep 2003 *

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