November 2011 Seminar: What next for the web? – a look at linked data and semantic search

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Summary

This was a joint event, run with the Information for Energy Group (IFEG) and hosted at The Energy Institute.  The session addressed the issue of linked data and the semantic web.

Whereas Web 1.0 might be thought of as ‘brochure ware’, one-way communication, and Web 2.0 has come to mean interactive, two-way communication online, the future seems to be for information and knowledge management itself to move onto the web.

What is linked data?  Richard gave an excellent introduction to the topic, leading us through a logical path to understanding how information from different data sets can be shared, merged and used online.  When the web originated, it was about publishing text documents with links to other text documents, using html.  Linked data is about linking ‘things’ to other ‘things’, by giving them a label or identifier (a URI).  Things also have attributes, like a name, size, location, etc.

How about semantic search?   Victoria’s talk began from the opposite end of the spectrum – given that linked data exists on the web, how do you search for it?  Traditional online searching is based around keyword search, which uses methods such as counting words, page ranking using links, controlled form searching (eg; OPAC) or metadata.  These methods were developed for searching text.  To search structured data needs a different approach.

Linked data tools and open data publishing seems to have many potential benefits and also some risks; as with any rapid change the regulation and safeguards against the risks will probably lag behind what is taking place in practice.

Speakers

Richard Wallis is a Technology Evangelist and has been with the UK’s leading Linked Data and Semantic Web technology company, Talis, for over eleven years. This coupled with his passion for and engagement with new and emerging technology trends, gives him a unique perspective of the issues challenging Information professionals today. As Technology Evangelist he is at the forefront in promoting, explaining, and applying new and emerging Web and Semantic Web technologies in the wider information domain. Richard is an active blogger and regular podcaster in the ‘Talking with Talis’ series.

Victoria Uren supported Richard.

Time and Venue

November 2011, 2pm The British Dental Association, 64 Wimpole Street, London W1G 8YS

Slides

No slides available

Tweets

#netikx50

Blog

See our blog report: What next for the Web and information services? Linked data and semantic search

Study Suggestions

None

September 2011 Seminar: Developing our capability – A practical tool-kit for IM/KM practitioners and their customers

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Summary

Chris introduced the subject by saying that River Diagrams are a way to visualise the results from a maturity model or self-assessment tool, looking through the lens of knowledge-sharing.

This: “provides a systematic framework for carrying out benchmarking and performance improvement.”
Chris described knowledge management as a learning marketplace, with supply (of people with knowledge) and demand (of people needing to learn).  For any marketplace to work effectively, however, it needs a shared currency (so there is benefit to both sides in making the trade) and a common language (so that what is being traded is clearly understood by both parties).

Chris described a River Diagram exercise from his time at BP, where they wanted to compare their 99 business units to agree which operational areas they all had in common (eg health & safety, corrosion management, water handling, etc), and benchmark performance of all the business units in each area.

Speakers

Chris Collison is an Independent Consultant. He works with Knowledgeable Ltd, as a Knowledge Management Coach, Trainer, Facilitator and Speaker.  He works with a wide variety of organisations, helping them to improve their performance by discovering and sharing what they know.  Chris has had the privilege to work with over 130 clients, including: Shell, Pfizer, Roche, ConocoPhillips, Schlumberger, Vodafone, Syngenta, Oracle, PwC, the NHS, UN, World Bank, International Olympic Committee and ten UK Government departments.

Time and Venue

September 2011, 2pm The British Dental Association, 64 Wimpole Street, London W1G 8YS

Slides

No slides available

Tweets

#netikx51

Blog

See our blog report: Developing our capability – a seminar with Chris Collison

Study Suggestions

Chris suggested this link might be of interest:

July 2011 Seminar: Information Risk Management – taking a risk management approach

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Summary

We have no information relating to this session

Speakers

Liz Scott-Wilson –  Information Architect who focuses on enterprise search and document management strategies

Patricia Bryant – Information Management Speaker.  Her specialism is risk management.

Time and Venue

July 2011, 2pm The British Dental Association, 64 Wimpole Street, London W1G 8YS

Slides

No slides available

Tweets

#netikx52

Blog

There is no blog report for this seminar

Study Suggestions

None

May 2011 Seminar: Making the most of SharePoint.

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Summary

This was a joint session where CLISG joined with NetIKX for an in-depth look at SharePoint: its value to organisations as well as the risks and disadvantages.

Speakers

Mark Field is Principal Knowledge Manager & Knowledge Management Lead at the Department for Education.

John Quinn, James Andrews and Hugh O’Neill also supported Mark

Time and Venue

May 2011, 2pm The British Dental Association, 64 Wimpole Street, London W1G 8YS

Slides

No slides available

Tweets

#netikx53

Blog

There is no blog for this seminar

Study Suggestions

See the later seminar also looking at Sharepoint for current recommendations.

Knowledge management and organisational strategy – NetIKX March 2011 seminar

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Another lively and thought-provoking NetIKX seminar took place on Thursday 24 March at the British Dental Association which is fast becoming our preferred location as healthy numbers of people continue to support our programme. Flooding at Trafalgar Square, power cuts on the underground and speakers stuck on trains gave us a few hairy moments but in the end nearly 40 participants enjoyed 2 different but very good speakers, Dr Nick Milton (not Wilton as per the feedback sheets!) from Knoco Ltd and Linda Wishart from the Department of Health, followed by syndicate work on Nick’s Boston boxes, Working across cultures, Exit interviews and What is KM all about?. The overriding message was that KM is necessary now more than ever.

Nick offered us a model of knowledge based on competence in 4 different areas – Potential competence (in business terms looking at emerging markets), Competitive competence, Core competence and Others’ competence. The “Others” box led to some interesting discussions during a brief Q & A session at the end of his presentation. Nick’s view was that this led to Outsourcing and Quality assurance but he admitted that his views were likely to change as a result of the debate! It is good to see NetIKX influencing the minds of today!

He then gave us 2 stories – the first on a successful deployment of KM principles leading from Strategy to Activity and Results. Although I never got to understand how Mars chocolate can stop melting in India, the successful outcome was that sales trebled and the profit % doubled. Nick then offered us a cautionary tale when these principles are not followed. It was a sobering scenario about the disaster at Longford refinery in Australia which was caused by a knowledge failure resulting in 2 deaths and 8 people injured as well as a loss of power in the area for 20 days!

Linda’s presentation on the challenge of implementing KM in changing times when central government is heading towards significantly reduced workforce and resources, shared services and no money, Information Assurance and risk management, coupled with the government’s transparency agenda, was all too familiar to colleagues from other government departments. Linda did admit that DH was the first department to be taken to task by the Information Commissioner who had concluded that their FOI requests and record management was not up to scratch. After providing some insight into the myriad of different roles which the DH Knowledge worker will be facing in 2015, Linda shared her strategy of facing up to the KM challenge. This strategy was based around improved technology where possible, improved information access, knowledge capture and transfer, training and awareness, and engagement with workgroups. Linda was unfortunately unable to stay for the syndicate work but she was able to answer a couple of questions. Very similar to Nick’s premise that KM has never been more important, in response to the question “How does FOI impact on people’s willingness to record knowledge?”, the answer was that it is all about managing information properly. So there you are then – Knowledge Management – does it still have a role in organisational strategy? The answer was a resounding yes!

There were lively discussions at the 4 syndicate groups and the report back was interesting and well-received.

Melanie Harris

March 2011 Seminar: Knowledge Management – does it still have a role in organisational strategy?

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Summary

Nick led an exciting session looking at a model of knowledge based on competence in 4 different areas:

* Potential competence (in business terms looking at emerging markets)
* Competitive competence
* Core competence
* Others’ competence

Nick’s view was that the other category related to Outsourcing and Quality assurance but it led to a lively debate.  Then we heard 2 stories – the first on a successful deployment of KM principles leading from Strategy to Activity and Results. The successful outcome was that sales trebled and the profit % doubled. However, when good principles are not followed things flow less well.  It was a sobering scenario about the disaster at Longford refinery in Australia which was caused by a knowledge failure resulting in 2 deaths and 8 people injured as well as a loss of power in the area for 20 days!

Linda spoke about the myriad of different roles which the DH Knowledge worker will be facing in 2015.  Her strategy was based around improved technology where possible, improved information access, knowledge capture and transfer, training and awareness, and engagement with workgroups. Very similar to Nick’s premise that KM has never been more important, in response to the question “How does FOI impact on people’s willingness to record knowledge?”, the answer was that it is all about managing information properly. So there you are then – Knowledge Management – does it still have a role in organisational strategy? The answer was a resounding yes!

Speakers

Dr Nick Milton is an international consultant who has worked with some of the biggest organisations in the world. He is skilled, experienced and knowledgeable. He is a respected thought leader and author in the field of Knowledge Management. He is passionate about the value that Knowledge can deliver to an organisation, when the right framework is in place.

Linda Wishart is Head of Knowledge and Information Management at the UK Department of Health. She is a member of the cross-government Knowledge Council and she focuses on best practice.

 

 

Social networking tools – should they be taken seriously?

Suzanne Burge, Information Consultant

Elisabeth Goodman, Associate, Pelican Coaching and Development

Time and Venue

March 2011, 2pm The British Dental Association, 64 Wimpole Street, London W1G 8YS

Slides

No slides available

Tweets

#netikx54

Blog

See our blog report: Knowledge management and organisational strategy

Study Suggestions

None

January 2011 Seminar: Using social media to achieve organisational goals implications for organisational and IM/KM policies and strategies

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Summary

This was a follow-on seminar to one hosted the previous year, where we had introduced our members to a range of social media tools, and questioned if and how NetIKX might use them and also guide people in their use.  Although our January 2010 seminar was very popular, there was still some scepticism about the value of social media tools, and how organisations might use them.  This time, the tone was perhaps more one of how organisations might be persuaded to adopt the wider use of social media.
Hazel and Nicky described how Library and Information professionals can play a role in guiding and supporting the evolutionary adoption of social media tools by:

* Demonstrating how the tools can be used
* Experimenting and developing our own capabilities, as well as giving users the opportunity to experiment
* Providing training e.g. in digital literacy

The use of social media tools in the organisation should be part of Library and Information Management strategy but they tend to be owned by Security.  We need to help organisations to switch from an emphasis on the risk of using social media, to the risk of not using these tools.

Speakers

Dr Hazel Hall is Director of the Centre for Social Informatics in the School of Computing at Edinburgh Napier University. She is also leads the implementation of the UK Library and Information Science Research Coalition. Hazel was named IWR Information Professional of the Year in December 2009.

Nicky Whitsed is Director of Library Services at the Open University.  She is an experienced strategic and change manager having led successful projects in the commercial, medical and academic fields. Nicky is trained in project management and facilitation and also has experience as a trainer. She has served on a number of CILIP and JISC committees and on a number of editorial boards.

Time and Venue

January 2011, 2pm The British Dental Association, 64 Wimpole Street, London W1G 8YS

Slides

No slides available

Tweets

#netikx55

Blog

See our blog report: Using social media to achieve organisational goals – the next steps

Study Suggestions

None