What types of systems are used for enterprise-wide knowledge management and how do they provide value for businesses?

Define and describe the various types of enterprise-wide knowledge management systems and explain how they provide value for businesses.

There are three types of knowledge management systems:

Enterprise-wide knowledge management systems are general-purpose, firmwide efforts that collect, store, distribute, and apply digital content and knowledge. These systems include capabilities for searching for information, storing both structured and unstructured data, and locating employee expertise within the firm. They also include supporting technologies such as portals, search engines, collaboration tools, and learning management systems. Structured knowledge systems provide databases and tools for organizing and storing structured documents, whereas semistructured knowledge systems provide databases and tools for organizing and storing semistructured knowledge, such as email or rich media.

Knowledge network systems provide an online directory of corporate experts in well-defined knowledge domains and use communication technologies to make it easy for employees to find the appropriate expert in a company. Some knowledge network systems go further by systematizing the solutions developed by experts and then storing the solutions in a knowledge database as a best-practices or frequently asked questions (FAQ) repository. Often these systems include group collaboration tools, portals to simplify information access, search tools, and tools for classifying information based on a taxonomy that is appropriate for the organization.

Intelligent techniques help discover patterns and apply knowledge to discrete decisions and knowledge domains. It uses tools like data mining, neural networks, experts systems, case-based reasoning, fuzzy logic, genetic algorithms, and intelligent agents (bots) to capture individual and collective knowledge and to extend their knowledge base.