Numeric Parameters
This page identifies and clarifies the numeric parameters which were used in this study.
Knowledge Parameters
Parameter values reflect the opinion of the experts interviewed regarding various aspects of the knowledge within the Knowledge Structure.
A detailed explanation of the meaning of each parameter used in this study is provided below.
Importance
Importance means how important a particular knowledge element on the map is, with reference to the main focus of the study or the top node. This could mean importance to the success or failure of the application of the knowledge area. It may be easier for some experts to provide opinion if the alternative term critical is used. This means how critical or essential (crucial) is the application of this particular piece of knowledge to the success or validity of the knowledge area being studied, the top node.
How important is this knowledge to the knowledge area being studied
0 = not important at all | 2 = very slightly important | 7 = rather important | 10 = absolutely critical
Higher risk values are those approaching 10 and lower risk values are those approaching 0.
Trigger point.
The high risk trigger point for this parameter is set at 8) very important.
Recovery
In a typical business or organisational knowledge study, recovery means how difficult would the knowledge be to replace or recover if it were lost to the organisation. In some studies, such as the study of conceptual or personal knowledge rather than applied or business knowledge, this question may need to be answered on a more personal basis. For instance, If I suddenly lost the knowledge of how to make a cup of tea but retained other knowledge, how difficult would it be to get this knowledge back again or learn it again.
If the organisation lost this knowledge, how difficult would it be to recover it
0 = very easy to replace | 2 = mostly easy to replace | 7 = mostly very difficult to replace | 10 = impossible to replace
Higher risk values are those approaching 10 and lower risk values are those approaching 0.
Trigger point.
The high risk trigger point for this parameter is set at 8) very difficult to replace.
Study-Exp
Study vs Experience relates to the way that an expert would typically acquire a particular piece of knowledge. Some knowledge being learned through study and other knowledge requiring experience and practice. The parameter reflects the balance between the two extremes of all study and all experience. In some cases, an alternative term tacit may be used. Some organisations use this term with reference to experience based rather than study based knowledge.
How would an expert typically acquire this knowledge, through study or experience
0 = always learned through study | 2 = mostly learned by study | 7 = generally learned from experience | 10 = can only be learned from experience
Higher risk values are those approaching 10 and lower risk values are those approaching 0.
Trigger point.
The high risk trigger point for this parameter is set at 8) mostly learned from experience.
Known By
In a typical business study, known by is discussed with reference to a pre-defined group of people. This group may be all of the people working in the knowledge area. Known by reflects the percentage of this reference group that are thought to know the specific piece of knowledge FULLY. In some cases, it is not possible to identify a useful group for the question related to this parameter. In such cases a more general term well known may be used. In some cases an expert may be asked to judge how well known, as a percentage, some piece of knowledge is within a very large population.
What percentage of people involved in this knowledge area know this knowledge FULLY
0 = known fully by 0% of the Group | 2 = known fully by 20% of the Group | 7 = known fully by 70% of the Group | 10 = known fully by all of the Group
Higher risk values are those approaching 0 whilst lower risk values are those approaching 10.
Trigger point.
The high risk trigger point for this parameter is set at 2) known fully by 20% of the Group.
