JISC

Start date: 12 September 2005

End date: 12 December 2006

Funding programme: Support for e-Research programme

JISC theme(s): e-Research, e-Administration, Information environment

Committees: JISC Support of Research committee

Knowledge management is a major UK strength; however, the landscape is often fragmented in its capture and description of current and novel practices, particularly arising from the eScience and digital library communities. 

Consequently, the JISC has recently funded a roadmap analysis of UK stakeholders and projects in order:

• to develop a common understanding, vocabulary, and approach to infrastructure and standards;
• to improve knowledge and understanding of both established and emerging methodologies and technologies being developed and used by different stakeholders

The contract to undertake this analysis is being led by TFPL to gather information from key stakeholders in the e-Science community, other research communities, and the digital libraries communities to:

1. Develop an inventory of knowledge management tools and methodologies currently in use and available in the various communities
2. Identify key tasks and requirements from each community and their commonalities and differences
3. Assist in organising consensus forming workshops; attend and facilitate workshops including the workshop in association with the UK E-Science All Hands meeting 20-22 September 2005
4. Manage the creation of a glossary and vocabulary of knowledge management terms indicating differences in usage between communities
5. In co-operation with the project organisers, draw up a “road map” for knowledge management for JISC covering the responsibilities of both JISC Support of Research and JISC Integrated Information Environment programmes
6. Prepare a report on the road map and proposals for ways forward

The roadmap was informed by a seminal Knowledge Management Workshop held at the eScience All Hands Meeting on September 21st, 2005, and chaired by Alan Rector (University of Manchester) and Nigel Shadbolt (University of Southampton). A selection of presentations from the workshop are provided below. 

An integral part of the Report was the undertaking of a Glossary of Knowledge Management terms by Alan Gilchrist which covers the eScience and digital library domain usage of terms.  

Arising from the activities outlined above and in the Roadmap, a new JISC programme of work entitled ‘Knowledge Management and Semantic Services’ will be forthcoming. Please contact  Ann Borda, JISC e-Research Programme Manager, for further information.