Interpreting knowledge maps using structural criteria

DS 75-6: Proceedings of the 19th International Conference on Engineering Design (ICED13), Design for Harmonies, Vol.6: Design Information and Knowledge, Seoul, Korea, 19-22.08.2013

Year: 2013
Editor: Udo Lindemann, Srinivasan V, Yong Se Kim, Sang Won Lee, John Clarkson, Gaetano Cascini
Author: Schmidt, Danilo Marcello; Schenkl, Sebastian Alexander; Wickel, Martina Carolina; Braun, Michael; Maurer, Maik
Series: ICED
Institution: Institute of Product Development, Technische Universität München, Germany
Page(s): 371-380
ISBN: 978-1-904670-49-0
ISSN: 2220-4334

Abstract

Companies have to develop their knowledge to provide more complex products to fulfill changing market‘s requirements. We have chosen a Multiple-Domain-Matrix (MDM)-based knowledge mapping approach to visualize companies' knowledge distribution, which divides company knowledge in three areas: tasks, knowledge and employees. From knowledge maps, weaknesses and strengths of knowledge distribution can be derived. In literature, only methods of graphical visualization were suggested to interpret such knowledge maps. These criteria are used to identify certain characteristics of knowledge structure. The developed methodology was applied in a department of a mechanical engineering company and critical knowledge elements were identified.

Keywords: Knowledge management, knowledge maps, structural analysis, multiple-domain matrix

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