Enterprise-Wide Modeling
Introduction
The study of knowledge and its application to human endeavor goes back thousands of years to our first inquiry of "why." The modern enterprise, a learning organization, does well to study both classical and contemporary sources. You will uncover gems, enabling you to see the past and the present more clearly—and seize the future.
Knowledge is the domain of epis-temology, a branch of philosophy, and focuses on the nature, sources and limits of human knowledge. There are several theories of knowledge spanning many authors and multiple texts. Of interest to the enterprise is the "correspondence" theory of knowledge, which holds that the truth of a proposition is related to its correspondence in reality. In other words, the truth of our observations about the world is directly related to our ability to model the world.
One technique can catalyze enterprise-wide modeling by its ability to establish a resonant correspondence between different but complementary knowledge domains—metaphor. Metaphors and, by extension, analogies are powerful techniques. By relating disparate domains that resonate, they encourage insights about target domains to emerge, enabling the enterprise to magnify, calibrate, and articulate its focus.
Analogies can be used at both high and low levels of abstraction in service to the enterprise. At higher levels, analogies can be applied to enterprise objectives such as the formulation of its vision, philosophy and culture. At lower levels, analogies, depending upon their congruent extensibility with reality, can be applied to enterprise operations such as methods, training and architecture.
With this brief introduction, KGain presents the knowledge-diamond simile, metaphor, and analogy as an enterprise modeling example for Knowledge Management (KM).
Knowledge is Like a Diamond
The beauty of a diamond is a function of the combined factors of Color, Clarity, Cut and Carat weight. These four factors are a combination of natural and human processes. These processes result in a diamond that can capture and reflect light, attracting our attention and sparking the imagination.
Similarly, the truth of knowledge is a function of these combined factors: the point of view (POV) of the KM team (Color); the target knowledge domain (potential for Clarity); the descriptive and prescriptive power derived from the KM process (Cut); and the length of time devoted to acquiring relevant data points and information, and pre-processing them (Carat weight). These processes result in knowledge that can capture and reflect truth, attracting our attention and sparking innovation.
A Difference
Whereas diamonds are primarily the result of natural processes, knowledge is primarily the result of human processes:
Diamonds: The Color, Clarity and Carat weight of a diamond are inherent characteristics, or the overall quality that results from a long series of natural processes. The Cut of a diamond is given by the hands of a human being and, when performed precisely, can reveal the diamond's inherent ability to capture and reflect light.
Knowledge: The "Color," "Carat weight" and "Cut" of knowledge are synthetic characteristics, or the overall quality that results from a long series of human processes. The "Clarity" of a knowledge domain is given by its essential nature and context and, when perceived precisely, can reveal the knowledge domain's inherent ability to capture and reflect truth.
Relation to ValueTruth is to knowledge as beauty is to diamonds, but what of value? The overall value of a diamond is determined by all four factors; but arguably, the most important, to increase the inherent value of a diamond, is the human process (Cut), which reveals the diamond's ability to reflect light. Similarly, the overall value of a knowledge domain is determined by all four factors; but arguably, the most important, to increase the inherent value of a knowledge domain, are the human processes—the dominant POV (Color), depth and breadth of preparation (Carat weight), and execution (Cut), which reveal the domain's ability to reflect truth.
Human versus Inherent Constraints
A diamond cutter can take an inherently superior diamond, in the rough, and lessen its value with errors made during the Cut. Similarly, we can understand how a team of people can take an inherently superior knowledge domain, and lessen its value with errors made with the Color of their POV, while assembling its Carat weight, or during the Cut.
Conversely, a superior diamond cutter can make a flawless Cut; but, if the diamond's Color, Clarity and Carat weight are inferior (potential to reflect light), the diamond cutter will be unable to increase the diamond's inherent beauty and value. Similarly, a superior team of people can Color, Carat weight, and Cut a knowledge domain flawlessly; but, if the domain's Clarity is inferior (potential to reflect truth), the KM team will be unable to increase its inherent truth and value.
Recommendation
Emphasize enterprise-wide modeling, whether at high or low levels of abstraction and with or without techniques like metaphor. It will enhance effective and efficient communication, vital to survival and sustained profitable growth. The best models, however, are those that provide an integrative framework for vertical and horizontal communication, during the entire lifecycle of an enterprise activity—from concept to cut.
KGain enables its customers to achieve their goals more rapidly and with less error through "fast and light" Enterprise Engineering consulting engagements and self-service digital content. We make extensive use of metaphor and analogy to create and transfer our enterprise-enabling Diamonds of Knowledge™. For example, an analogy to musical composition is used in V2T2: General Business Model and Methodology, when applying V2T2 to Enterprise Relationship Management. Please visit us at KGain and the V2T2 Knowledge Diamond™ at V2T2
Copyright © 2001 KGain. All Rights Reserved