Developing patterns as a mechanism for assisting the management of knowledge in the context of conducting organisational change

Abstract

In a constantly evolving business environment, knowledge management is becoming increasingly important. The shareability and repeatability of experience gained in change situations can prove an invaluable tool for the evolving enterprise. We advocate the use of the pattern paradigm as a means to capture and disseminate this type of knowledge. We place particular emphasis on representing both the ways in which an enterprise can conduct change (the process of change), and the states to which this change can lead the enterprise (the product of change). Our approach to pattern development is based (a) on the existence of a pattern template and (b) on a co-operative and discussant way of working, so as to ensure that a maximum of domain knowledge is captured. The approach is illustrated with examples from a case study of change management in the electricity sector.