WHAT IS KNOWN

The organization (who) – What is the company's organization? This whole change in orientation towards knowledge management is having profound effects on the organization. What does this mean?

Events, agents, responses (when) – What role does time play in the company's operations? What events cause things to happen? Who responds and in what ways?

Motivation and Business rules (why) – What are the company's objectives, and how are they translated into business rules? The company's body of knowledge is composed of all of these, mixed together in various ways. Some modeling techniques are available to address some of them, but no model has yet completely captured them all. From Data to Wisdom and the Steps in Between It is common to confuse data, information, and knowledge. People are beginning to tease apart definitions of each. Verna Allee has defined levels of knowing in terms of the first two categories described above: what is known, and how is it used. In each of these realms, she has then characterized the following:[3]

What is known?
How is it used?

DATA (Instinctual learning) – the sensory or input level.

DATA (Feedback) – registering data without reflection.

INFORMATION (Single feedback loop learning) – data organized into categories

PROCEDURAL (Efficiency) – doing something the most efficient way. Conforming to standards or making simple adjustments to modifications. Focus is on developing and following procedures.

KNOWLEDGE (Behavior modification) – the interpretation of information by someone.

FUNCTIONAL (Effectiveness) – seeking effective action and resolution of inefficiencies. Evaluating or choosing between alternate paths. Focus is on work design and engineering aspects.

MEANING (Communal learning) – perception of concepts, relationships, and trends. From this perspective it is possible to detect relationships between components.

MANAGING (Productivity) – using conceptual frameworks to understand what promotes or impedes effectiveness. Effective management and allocation of resources and tasks, using concpetual frameworks to analyze and keep track of multiple variables.

PHILOSOPHY (Inquiring into our own thinking processes) – integrative or systemic understanding of dynamic relationships and non-linear processes, discerning patterns that connect. Recognizes the imbeddedness and interconnectedness of systems.

INTEGRATING (Optimization) – long-term planning and adaptation to a changing environment. This includes long-range forecasting, development of multi-level strategies, and evaluating investments and policies with regard to long-term success.

WISDOM (Generative learning) – learning for the joy of learning, involving creative processes, heuristic and open-ended explorations, and profound self-questioning.

RENEWING (Integrity) – Defining or reconnecting with values, vision, and mission. Understanding purpose.

UNION (Synergistic) – integration of direct experience and appreciation of oneness or deep connection with the greater cosmos. Requires processes that connect purpose to the health and well-being of the larger community and the environment.

UNION (Sustainability) – Commitment to the greater good of society, the environment, and the planet. What does all this mean?