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Knowledge

Knowledge refers to what one knows and understands. Knowledge is sometimes categorized as unstructured, structured, explicit or tacit. What we know we know is called explicit knowledge. Knowledge that is unstructured and understood, but not clearly expressed, is called implicit knowledge. If the knowledge is organized and easy to share then it is called structured knowledge. To convert implicit knowledge into explicit knowledge, the knowledge must be extracted and formatted.

Knowledge Acquisition

The extraction and formulation of knowledge derived from various sources, especially from experts.

Knowledge Base

A collection of facts, rules, and procedures organized into schemas. A knowledge base is the assembly of all the information and knowledge of a specific field of interest.

Knowledge-Driven DSS

Knowledge-Driven DSS can suggest or recommend actions to managers. These DSS are person-computer systems with specialized problem-solving expertise. The "expertise" consists of knowledge about a particular domain, understanding of problems within that domain, and "skill" at solving some of these problems. A related concept is Data Mining. It refers to a class of analytical applications that search for hidden patterns in a database. Data mining is the process of sifting through large amounts of data to produce data content relationships. Tools used for building Knowledge-Driven DSS are sometimes called Intelligent Decision Support methods (cf., Dhar and Stein, 1997). Data Mining tools can be used to create hybrid DSS that have major data and knowledge components.

Knowledge Engineer

An AI specialist responsible for the technical side of developing an expert system. The knowledge engineer works closely with the domain expert to capture the expert's knowledge in a knowledge base.

Knowledge Engineering (KE)

KE is an engineering discipline that involves integrating knowledge into computer systems in order to solve complex problems normally requiring a high level of human expertise.

Knowledge Management (KM)

KM is the distribution, access and retrieval of unstructured information about "human experiences" between interdependent individuals or among members of a workgroup. Knowledge management involves identifying a group of people who have a need to share knowledge, developing technological support that enables knowledge sharing, and creating a process for transferring and disseminating knowledge.

Knowledge Management Software (KMS)

KMS can store and manage unstructured information in a variety of electronic formats. The software may assist in knowledge capture, categorization, deployment, inquiry, discovery, or communication. Products include electronic document management systems (EDMS). Visit KMWorld at URL http://www.kmworld.com/.