Strategies for implementing knowledge-based systems

The effective management of knowledge is important for the competitivity of organizations. Rapid technological progress over the last decade has made knowledge-based systems (KBSs) (including expert systems, organizational memory information systems, and other advanced information technology solutions) an integral part of every organization's effort to manage its knowledge assets effectively, KBSs have an important impact on all levels of organizational knowledge: individual, group, organizational, and knowledge links. This paper outlines four generic knowledge processing strategies to guide the implementation of KBSs within organizations. These generic strategies are related both to the level of knowledge assets under consideration and the locus of responsibility for the development of KBS. The different knowledge processing strategies influence the management of knowledge possible within an organization and consequently influence the development of KBS within the organization. The paper also outlines different facilitators and barriers to the four knowledge processing strategies.