Empowering the knowledge worker: End-user software engineering in knowledge management

Abstract

We present a novel architecture of a knowledge management system meeting the end-user software engineering requirements, thus empowering the knowledge worker to eliminate such intermediaries as system analysts and application programmers. Advantages of direct representation of user requirements in executable knowledge management application specifications, as well as the resulting system agility and ease of maintenance are highlighted. The state-of the-art in the end-user software engineering area pertaining to the knowledge management systems realm comprises information about the on-going research and development efforts. The principal features of a knowledge management system toolbox are described, comprising among others, such functional areas as semantic modelling of knowledge object repositories, and adaptive management of knowledge management processes. Finally we succinctly discuss the end-user oriented methodology guiding specification of the knowledge management application solutions.