Standards, Processes and
Marketplaces for e-Knowledge

Every organization needs to prepare for the implications of advances in Internet technologies and standards, and the extended sharing of e-knowledge through partnerships and marketplaces. The following two actions will prepare organizations for the seamless internal and external sharing of knowledge.

	9.
	Standards

Monitor the latest developments in standards and processes for information sharing. Translate into clear explanations of the implications of e-knowledge standards for your enterprise. Develop organizational stories of e-knowledge transformation.

Your organization should be aware of technology and standards developments and their implications relating to the following key areas:

• e-learning and e-knowledge
• Internet/Semantic Web/Grid
• Web services (XML, SOAP, UDDI, WSDL)
• “Disruptive” technologies as they emerge

Translate these new and prospective developments into succinct and believable descriptions of organizational transformation.

a. Cross-functional Working Teams and Web Sites for Pooling Insights. This is an important role for a small working team in your organization, with membership drawn from across the enterprise. In a university, this would involve participants from the CFO, library, IT Division, and academic affairs areas.

In a trade association, technology, marketing, membership, product development, and publications would need to engage. Corporate working groups would need to reflect the full spectrum of players. The arcane details of standards development are well beyond the interest of all but a few, but the implications touch every part of the organization.

b. Engage Broad Cross-Sections of the Enterprise in Storytelling about e-Knowledge. Don’t just share stories (of successes and failures); get people to tell their stories. Get them to talk about the use of e-knowledge in their words as a way to discover the importance of standards. Use the enterprise portal/intranet to share stories, ideas, and perspectives, and to stimulate dialogue with broad cross sections of the organization. The consensus-building phase of standards development and understanding e-knowledge is all about developing common understanding based on industry requirements and input.

c. Participate in External Working Groups. If your organization has a stake in the outcomes of standards development then it needs to discern a point of engagement in the process. Possible choices include IMS, W3C, IEEE LTSC, GKEC, PROMETEUS, or national standards bodies.

Exemplary Resources:
Articulating the Importance of e-Knowledge for an Enterprise

Many organizations have touted the importance of these developments for their stakeholders. Check out the following examples of organizational documents:

• e-Learning Technical Standards. NHSU Project Management Group.
  www.doh.gov.uk/nhsuniversity/
• Standards Australia Knowledge Portal. knowledge.standards.com.au
• World Bank Web site for insights on storytelling in knowledge management. www.worldbank.org