Designing decentralized knowledge management systems to effectuate individual and collective generative capacities

Abstract

Purpose In addressing the future trajectory of knowledge management systems, this paper uses the psycho-social notion of generativity which recently stimulated contributions in technology and innovation for a holistic systemic knowledge management (KM) review. The purpose of this study is to identify current shortcomings and fixations together with their ramifying affordances, all enveloped within a novel KM concept and prototype-system-under-development. Design/methodology/approach It follows up on prior publications using design science research (DSR) methodologies in compliance with theory effectiveness, a principle expecting system designs to be purposeful in terms of utility and communication. The KM perspective taken prioritizes a decentralizing agenda benefiting knowledge workers while also aiming to foster a fruitful co-evolution with traditional organizational KM approaches. Findings The notions of generative fit and capacities in their technical, informational and social interpretations prove able to accommodate diverse KM models and to cumulatively synthesize a wide range of related concepts and perspectives. In the process, Nonaka’s renowned socialize, externalize, combine, internalize and Ba model is repurposed and extended to suggest a corresponding complementing seize, imbed, collate, encompass, effectuate workflow embedded in distinct digital ecosystems fully aligned to the diversity of the generative attributes introduced. Research limitations/implications Although the prototype development is still in progress, the study conforms to the DSR practice to report on early visions of technology impact on users, organizations and society and also refers to and reflects on aspects of feasibility, suitability, acceptability and the system’s prospect as a general-purpose technology or disruptive innovation. Originality/value The paper transdisciplinarily integrates the well-established psychological notions of generativity into its newer digital and systemic KM dimensions. The resulting new insights transparently inform the concept and prototype design, present a holistic framework for individuals and organizations and suggest avenues for new KM applications and KM research directions inspired by the adopted and adapted novel generativity contexts.

Scalability of generative knowledge management systems: designing for individuals’ and institutions’ mutual benefit

“…By integrating system dynamics, discrete-event and agent-based modeling approaches, the roots of these symptoms have been traced back to causes of information entropy and structural holes, invisible private and undiscoverable public knowledge (Schmitt, 2016a). The models confirm recent research results which have used the, it seems, ineffectual sad state of our current knowledge management (KM) and knowledge creation practices as a point of departure by: using the strengths, vulnerability and intervention assessment related to digital threats (SVIDT) methodology (Schmitt, 2018a); applying recent notions of generative fit and capacities in their technical, informational and social interpretations (Schmitt, 2019a); and focusing on entropy, syntropy and negentropy in recent knowledge creation and management contexts (Schmitt, 2020a).…”

“…The third level (row 3) covers meta-frameworks for guiding methodological education and applications as exemplified in the PKM4I/D/E/A/L contexts. Conceptually, the exchange of ideas, critiques, faults, requirements or plans related to the further development of the PKMS, its community, and its synergetic alliances with other platforms are also hosted in the memetic format (Schmitt, 2019a).…”

(Neg)Entropic Scenarios Affecting the Wicked Design Spaces of Knowledge Management Systems

“…[Currently,] knowledge is dispersed and never completely available for everyone; therefore, it is not possible for an individual to know how objects in their environment can be used in different contexts” [ 49 ] (p. 7). To assess this likelihood, a recent article [ 40 ] argues that, since generative potentials/threats are ignored, dominant KMS designs do currently not yet exist. This inefficient status quo presents the PKMS with a competitive opportunity which has been verified by positively benchmarking its envisaged sustainable impact [ 3 ] against twelve objective criteria of disruptive innovations and general-purpose technologies (GPT) [ 50 ].…”

“…To update the rationale for the PKMS remedy, a prior article utilized the nine-step SVIDT methodology (strengths, vulnerability, and intervention assessment related to digital threats) to reverse engineer the envisaged PKMS affordances back to the underlying motivations [ 30 , 39 ]. In an ensuing publication, the psycho-social notion of generativity was employed to embed the rationale within a holistic systemic KM review and to sketch a future trajectory of KM systems [ 40 ]. This article’s focus on the entropic concerns is the logical next step and will be followed up by crafting a desirable sustainability vision for the novel, potentially disruptive PKMS technology (paper currently in progress).…”

“…In these contexts, PKMSs are “aiming for novel sustainable interventions to confront opportunity divides by affording individuals the means for life-long-learning, resourcefulness, creative authorship and teamwork and by supporting their generative role as contributor to and beneficiary of organizational and societal performances” [ 40 ] (p. 13) They, hence, yield strong synergies with their traditional top-down-KMS-correspondents allowing for collaboratively interlinking knowledge bases and for collectively tracing, harvesting, and utilizing accumulated knowledge subsets more productively for organizational as well as personal benefit.…”