Defining Knowledge Technology and Systems

This chapter first introduces a value creation spiral model of converting data and information into knowledge and creating valuable ideas, followed by explaining the action guidelines and goals of the four processes of the model. It defines the theories and tools used in these processes as knowledge technologies. After reviewing typical examples of knowledge technology, we will consider future challenges. This chapter then defines the knowledge system that promotes interaction between codified and personalized knowledge and creates ideas for solving a specific problem. To see what it looks like, we will learn knowledge systems engineering with the idea of building a company’s knowledge system in mind. We will discuss the methodology for building knowledge systems, which utilizes mathematical/intelligent knowledge technologies and participatory knowledge technologies in a complementary manner. For that purpose, we will learn the meta-synthesis systems approach that integrates qualitative and quantitative approaches to solve large-scale complex problems and the critical systems thinking that recommends selectively utilizing various methods according to the purpose. This chapter finally refers to knowledge technologies introduced in the subsequent chapters while exemplifying the knowledge system construction methodology.