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A Spectrum of Information ToolsA Spectrum of Information Tools for Collaboration & Learning
Sean GordonUS Forest Service
PNW Research Station
1
PNW Research Station
My Interests & Expertise
H d t & l d
I f i
How data & analyses are used in decision making
Information Technology Sociology
Case studies ofCase studies of analytical tools
1 I t ti l P ’ F t P tt t1. International Paper’s Forest Patterns system2. Washington DNR Water Typing Model3. Willamette Basin Alternative Futures (EPA)4. NWFP Watershed Assessment Model
2www.ncseonline.org/ncssf/dss
General Themes
Community of practiceCommunity of practice
Spectrum of tools:Spectrum of tools: Communication – knowledge mgt – decision support
Management of people vs management of information
Explicit vs tacit knowledge
Decide what functionality you want (hard), then choose the tools (not so hard)
3
Community of Practice / Virtual Learning Organization
Domain of knowledgeDomain of knowledge
C it i t ti & h iCommunity: interaction & sharing
Practice: specific applied problems
4
Spectrum of Information Toolsp
Communication – Knowledge Mgt – Decision Support
Increasing specificity (domain community practice)(domain, community, practice)
5
Communication Tools
Tool Scope Community Practice NotesTool Scope Community Practice NotesIn person one-one,
small group, one-many
+++ +++ Cost $$$Archive?
one manyTelephone one-one,
small group, one-many
++ ++ Easy No archive
one manyE-mail One-many + + Asynchronous
No common archivearchive
Documents One-one - ++ ArchiveNo interaction
W b t O R i t hWebcasts One-many ++ ++ Requires techArchive?
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Knowledge Managementg g
a process that helps organizations identify selecta process that helps organizations identify, select, organize, disseminate, and transfer important information and expertise that are part of the organizational memory that typically resides within the organization in an unstructured manner
more a methodology applied to business practices than a technology or producttechnology or product
7
Knowledge Management Toolsg g
Tool Scope Community PracticeTool Scope Community PracticeIntranets / KMS(multi-tool)
many people > one product
+ ++
li t /f / > ++ +listservers/forums/groups
one person > group
++ +
blogs / Facebook one person > ++ ?group
wikis (Wikipedia): many people > one product
+ ++
social bookmarking / tagging (D li i )
one person > group > group product
- +
(Delicious):Google - +
YouTube and MySpace are runaway hits because they combine two attributes rarely
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YouTube and MySpace are runaway hits because they combine two attributes rarely found together in tech products. They're easy to use, and they don't tell you what to do.
(Boutin 2006)
Decision Support Systems
“content free expression”content-free expression Turban & Aronson (2001). Decision support systems and intelligent systems
In Out
Decision policy/management-oriented research models
Support handles complexity rules of thumb
System reproducible protocol ad hoc expert assessments (FEMAT)
computer-based forest certification (data, model, user interface) standards
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DSS Functions
Encapsulate knowledge in a very specific wayEncapsulate knowledge in a very specific way –can be
A generic framework for analysis orA generic framework for analysis orSpecific domain knowledge
TypesTypes Simulation: FVS, VDDTOptimization: FORPLAN SPECTRUMOptimization: FORPLAN, SPECTRUMEvaluation: EMDS, Netica
How to find them?How to find them?FRAMES – Tools databaseAnalytical and Decision Support For Managing Vegetation and Fuels: A Consumer Guide (2007) http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr690.pdf
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DSS as Learning Tools?g
Not typically thought of as learning tools butNot typically thought of as learning tools, but…Run mindlessly (black box) vs used to direct learningForce you to be explicit about relationshipsForce you to be explicit about relationships Help expose (or hide) where knowledge is weakest; some systems have tools to help guide data/knowledge y p g gacquisitionUse in adaptive management (Walters): for synthesis and where on the ground experiments are not feasibleSuccess factors – social vs technical (Gordon)
ti i ti i ti t l ti di tiparticipation, communication, translation, mediationSystem quality, information quality, service quality
The Analysis-Deliberation cycle (NRC)The Analysis Deliberation cycle (NRC)
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What tools/capabilities might best benefit the PNW Fire Learning Network?PNW Fire Learning Network?
Domain: How easily can the knowledge be madeDomain: How easily can the knowledge be made explicit?
Easy: web based archiveEasy: web-based archiveHard: facilitate contacts
Community: What methods? How much structure?: participation, communication, translation, Community: What methods? How much structure?Existing capacity: email, web forumsParticipation: Control vs free form – two-tiered
mediation
Participation: Control vs free form – two-tiered system?
Practice: How specific is the taskPractice: How specific is the taskSpectrum of tools: Communication – knowledge mgt –decision support
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Virtual Communities of Practice
Ecosystem-Based Management Tools Network (marine)http://www.ebmtools.org
Placematters (urban & community planning)( y p g)http://www.placematters.com
U Redlands Spatial Decision Support Knowledgebasehttp://www.institute.redlands.edu/sds
Forest Encyclopediahttp://www.forestencyclopedia.net
U Vienna - Decision Support Community of Practice for Multiple Purpose F tForestry
http://dss.boku.ac.at/
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Maintaining a Portalg
The ProblemThe ProblemMaintenance!
Information constantly changingInformation constantly changingWho has the time?Time = moneyyOngoing funding?
The SolutionCommunity portal / wikiSelf-maintaining
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DSS SpecialistsSharing information – Community of PracticeSharing information – Community of Practice
U Vienna - Community of Practice for Decision Support - DecisionU Vienna Community of Practice for Decision Support Decision Support for Multiple Purpose Forestry
http://dss.boku.ac.at/
Features and suggested next steps:calendar, announcements, bulletin board, news
S ti il tifi ti h d hb dSuggestions: e-mail notification, homepage dashboardweb links, documents (215)
Field-based search, thesaurus (now have categories/index)( ?Automated citation exchange (maybe via link to dedicated service?
http://www.citeulike.org)DSS (systems list)
C tl l h dl d d tCurrently only handled as documentsIs database functionality needed or would a wikipedia-type approach be sufficient?
15
Barriers to KMS
Challenge % of Respondents
Methods to Address Respondents
Lack of understanding of KM and its benefits
55 leadership support, deliberate explanation
Lack of employee time for KM 45 reduce other workloadsLack of employee time for KM 45 reduce other workloadsLack of skill in KM techniques 40 provide training Lack of encouragement in the current culture for sharing
35 recognition mechanisms, ties names to knowledge
Lack of incentives/rewards to share
30 include level of contribution in performance review
Lack of funding for KM initiatives
24 id critical needs, start small initiatives Lack of appropriate technology 18 focus on processes, use existing
technologies Lack of commitment from 15 Follow the $senior management
$
Case 3: Washington State Water Typing
forest practices rule changes (Forests and Fish negotiations)forest practices rule changes (Forests and Fish negotiations)method to determine fish-bearing streamselectrofishing expensive and potentially harmfulmodel alternative based on geomorphic variables
17http://www3.wadnr.gov/dnrapp5/website/fpars/
Decision-making Structureg
18
Case 3: Washington State Water Typing
Agreement to Completion of
Success Factors Success Measures
gundertake modeling
pForests & Fish negotiations
Improvement of data base
Low resolution of base data Insufficient
model
Availability of high accuracy
alternative Lack of
regulatory use
accuracy
(electrofishing) Stakeholder intolerance of model
regulatory use
19
High stakes error
Analytical – Social Interaction
As problems become more socially complexAs problems become more socially complex…social factors and measures will become more important NoNo
C A l ti l S i l
Success Measures
Case Analytical Social
IP Forest Patterns 2 4IP Forest Patterns 2 4
NWFP Watersheds 3 3
WA Water Typing 3 3
Willamette Futures 7 4
20
Willamette Futures 7 4