Using adaptive hypermedia to support organizational memory and learning

Abstract

The skills, knowledge, and abilities of today's work force require continuous improvement. As a knowledge-based global economy evolves, organizations must strive to optimize human and intellectual capital. This paper examines some aspects of intelligent organizations. In particular, it explores the use of information technology to support memory, knowledge, and learning in organizations. An adaptive hypermedia system is described which incorporates hypertext navigation, information filtering, and multimedia artifacts to provide high-level query and browsing capabilities for information repositories. Design issues for such a system are discussed along with limitations imposed by current technological constraints. The system would include tools to dynamically store and retrieve organizational memory electronically. Such a system would provide mechanisms to access information, context in which to understand past and present events, and a mechanism to bring a multitude of lessons and experiences to bear on present and future activities.