Knowledge organisation and knowledge modelling in consulting companies

Linear or hierarchical structuring of knowledge is often found in knowledge management systems but neglects the associative links of knowledge with other knowledge or objects. Here, an approach for modelling a knowledge network is presented that puts knowledge in consulting companies into its context. This context consists of persons, projects, practices, etc. The objects and their relationships are motivated by the integration of knowledge management into the business of a consulting company. The focus is on supporting the knowledge life cycle related to project execution. Crucial aspects are changes in the organization structure, introduction of new organizational roles, re-use of documented project experiences, and support of the search for experts. A class diagram is presented that implements the proposed knowledge network and provides the basis for a knowledge network management system.