Transcript Cognitive semiotics: A new perspective for Knowledge Management René J. Jorna1,2 & Larissa Sjarbaini1 1) University of Groningen, P.O.

Cognitive semiotics: A new perspective for Knowledge Management
René J. Jorna1,2 & Larissa Sjarbaini1
1)
University of Groningen, P.O. Box 800 9700AV Groningen, The Netherlands
2) Frisian Academy (KNAW), Leeuwarden, The Netherlands
E-mail: [email protected]
1
Structure of the presentation
1. Introduction
2. Knowledge Management: An overview
3. The problem of operationalizing knowledge and its
dynamics
4. The Information Space: A model to understand
knowledge dynamics in organizations
5. The Knowledge Space: A Semio-Cognitive model to
capture knowledge dynamics at the individual level
6. Application: empirical research in semio-cognitive KM
7. Conclusions
2
2. Knowledge Management: An
Overview


KM exists since 1990 in Organization and
Management Studies. Various categorizations:
KM categorization 1


KM categorization 2:


information management versus human resource
management
First generation versus second generation KM.
KM categorization 3:

Individual versus organizational orientation
3
2. Knowledge Management: An
Overview (2)





Information management: storage, sharing
and distribution of knowledge with ICT
Human resource management: developing
human abilities and creativity
First generation KM: equals Information
Management
Second generation KM: knowledge creation,
development and innovation
Individual: Human as information processing
system; Organization: Group processes
4
2. Knowledge Management: An
Overview (3)


Orientation in our research is individual, but 2
problems in individual perspective of KM.
How to deal with dynamics of knowledge?


Answer: Use the Information Space model of
Boisot
How to deal with humans as in formation
processing systems?:


Answer 1: Humans have cognition, therefore look
at cognitive science
Answer 2: Humans are sign and symbol
processing systems, therefore look at semiotics
5
3. The problem of operationalizing
knowledge and its dynamics





Most discussions about KM neglect fluctuation,
development and dynamics
Knowledge: static, stable and defined? No, but
then how to operationalize dynamics?
We use the Boisot (1995/1998) model: The
information space; the I-space
Problem with Boisot’s model is that it is about
information and not knowledge;
We later adjusted the I-space into the K-space
6
4. The I-Space: A model to understand knowledge dynamics



The I-space: a model to understand
information flows in organizations.
Growing information availability, requiring
strategy to economize data processing.
Information has to be structured and reduced
in order to become accessible. The processes:



Codification: number of bits of information required
to carry out a given data-processing task; process of
forming
Abstraction: reduces number of categories;
structures
Diffusion: availability for those who want to use it
7
Boisot’s I-space: with three dimensions
8
5. The Knowledge Space: A
Semio-Cognitive Model

From I-space to K-space




From information to knowledge
More distinctions in knowledge types needed:
Sensory (tacit); (en)coded, theoretical
Need to keep dynamics and levels of aggregation
Our knowledge of reality is a semiotic,
representational construction. Can be studied
from cognitive and interpretative perspective.
As (cognitive) mental activity, representational
behavior is studied by cognitive science. As
representational activity, the cognitive mental
behavior is also the object of semiotics
9
5. The Knowledge Space: A
Semio-Cognitive Model (2)


Three semio-cognitive dimensions: Sensory
(rough to detailed), (En)coded (weak to strong)
and Theoretical (concrete to abstract).
Sensory knowledge:
Object
the actual mango
=
M AN GO
=
=
Sign
the word
mango
=
Everything there is to
know about a mango
Meaning
the meaning of the mango
concept
Figur e 5 .1 a: The fir st semiot ic dimension in which object , sign and meaning ar e one
10
5. The Knowledge Space: A
Semio-Cognitive Model (3)
Coded knowledge:
Object
the actual mango
≠
M AN GO
=
≠
Sign
the word
mango
=
Everything there is to
know about a mango
Meaning
the meaning of the mango
concept
The second semiotic dimension, in which the code separates from actuality
Theoretical knowledge:
Object
the actual mango
≠
M AN GO
≠
What there is to know
about a mango
≠
Sign
the word
mango
≠
Meaning
the meaning of the mango
concept
The third semiotic dimension, in which meaning separates from the code
11
5. The Knowledge Space: A
Semio-Cognitive Model (4)
K-space:
- Makes distinction in three knowledge types (plus quantification)
- Task, individual or organization orientation:
- Can deal with dynamics (change (within) and conversion (between))
Figur e 5 .4 a (left ): The knowledge space (K-space)
Figur e 5 .4 b (r ight ): Discr epancies in knowledge visualized in t he K-Space
12
6. Application: empirical research
in semio-cognitive KM





Organization: Bartimeus (visually impaired)
Who: 35 planners (18 in longitudinal study
What: planning (information gathering;
negotiating and problem solving)
How: three measurements (interviews and
questionnaires)
Outcomes: Increase in coded knowledge;
increase in knowledge in beginning, later fall
back; training is not enough to consolidate
knowledge change
13
7. Conclusions

KM neglects individual level of aggregation.


KM not suitable for knowledge dynamics.


See: the I-space model of Boisot
KM difficult to deal with knowledge creation.


See: our answer with regard to cognition and
semiotics
See: the adjustment from I-space to K-space
KM is not empirical (enough)

See: our study of change in planning
14
Contacting information
Email:
[email protected]
15