Knowledge Management Technologies - Search

Although technology alone is not sufficient, it is usually essential for successful implementation of effective km initiatives. A number of technolgies pop up in my mind when speaking of km technology: collaboration software, expert system, data mining, neural network, search, content management, intranet, extranet, concept map, Web 2.0 tools (e.g., blog, wiki), just to name some of them. Different tools are designed for different purposes. Since an organization typically manages different types of knowledge and km activities, a portfolio of technologies is required to achieve ultimate success.

Search is becoming a powerful way of finding knowledge. In the data and information management era, quick finding is ensured by proper organization. Organization depends on classification and hierarchical layering. While classification and hierachical structuring are still important, they are becoming more and more difficult due to the very nature and massive amount of knowledge resource. More than once when I was looking for an e-mail or a paper file in my computer, after a series of fruitless clickings, I clicked on the Google Desktop icon. That brings up a reasoanly short list of possible spots. With one more click, the right thing was found. Powerful search engines have beat my memory and my organization capability.

With such an important role to play for knowledge management, search tools are bound to continue to advance. Currently, for example, finding rare, local services is still not readily accessible.