Title: Knowledge flow management supporting complex problem solving: learning spectrum and its infrastructure

Authors: Wanchun Dou, Xiping Liu, Guihai Chen, S.C. Cheung, Shijie Cai

Addresses: State Key Laboratory for Novel Software Technology, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, PR China; Department of Computer Science and Technology, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, PR China; Department of Computer Science, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, PR China. ' State Key Laboratory for Novel Software Technology, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, PR China; Department of Computer Science and Technology, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, PR China. ' State Key Laboratory for Novel Software Technology, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, PR China; Department of Computer Science and Technology, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, PR China. ' Department of Computer Science, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, PR China. ' Department of Computer Science and Technology, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, PR China; Department of Computer Science and Technology, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, PR China

Abstract: Knowledge Management (KM) concerns innovating, spreading, sharing and using of knowledge assets. Dynamic knowledge flow management consists of cognition-compliant knowledge transferring and propagation for facilitating problem solving, which is a novel research issue in the KM domain. In this paper, the cognition is treated as the reflection-based knowledge application process related to problem solving and the cognition-compliant knowledge transferring and propagation is implemented through learning. Learning spectrum engaged in knowledge flow is explored from two aspects: depth learning and breadth learning corresponding to meta-cognition and group-cognition, respectively. Our work is based on a motivating example derived from New Product Development (NPD). To meet the globally distributed tendency of complex problem solving with cognitive intention, the infrastructure of Problem Solving Environment (PSE) based on Knowledge Grid (KG) scenarios is explored to facilitate web-based complex problem solving. At last, the conclusions are presented.

Keywords: knowledge management; KM; problem solving; knowledge flow management; meta-cognition; group cognition; learning; problem solving environments; PSE; knowledge grid; knowledge transfer; depth learning; breadth learning; new product development; NPD.

DOI: 10.1504/IJKL.2007.012602

International Journal of Knowledge and Learning, 2007 Vol.3 No.1, pp.88 - 105

Published online: 26 Feb 2007 *

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