Super knowledge systems to benefit smaller enterprises
Small companies often work differently than large ones in managing knowledge. Generally, knowledge management programs of larger organisations are expensive, relatively inflexible and unsuitable for knowledge intensive SMEs in Europe. Traditional knowledge management focuses on top-down, detailed and tightly controlled knowledge repositories. On the other hand, small knowledge-intensive European companies practice ad hoc, people-centred work processes, relying heavily on the social structures of the company (i.e. the individual knowledge and complex team formations). This has led to a need for a next-generation knowledge management system that manages and promotes social structures. The EU-funded Organik project is developing an innovative knowledge management approach, consisting of theoretical knowledge management foundation and technology of business social software applications. The approach deploys a new breed of digital environments, such as Web 2.0 for generating, sharing and refining organisational knowledge. As a result, the participating SMEs can manage content and knowledge while allowing for informal, people-centred and ad hoc everyday procedures to be employed, upon which they heavily rely. Organik's results with the development of innovative know-how, products and services, as well as improve competitiveness. Organik is already applying the resulting knowledge management capabilities among the nine participating SMEs and research partners from Germany, Greece, Italy and UK. The project team has successfully devised the system and has launched a prototype version. It has customised, deployed, and integrated Organik solutions in the SMEs partners. In its essence, the Organik technical architecture is facilitating research of data, retrieval, publication, and collaboration. This is achieved through advanced information retrieval, visualisation, and navigation tools. The system encourages the publication of data by supporting the authoring, structuring, contextualisation and release of knowledge. It enhances collaboration by enabling the joint creation, sharing and application of information by knowledge providers and seekers. The latter is achieved through communication, coordination, and community management services of Web 2.0 technologies such as Wikis. Overall, the Organik consortium has generated significant results to support the ongoing advancement of European knowledge-intensive SMEs. This will facilitate knowledge collaboration and the efficiency of European SMEs.
