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Session 1426

Knowledge Management Techniques in Experimental Projects Narayanan Komerath Professor, Aerospace Engineering Georgia Institute of Technology

Abstract

Knowledge integration (KI) and knowledge management (KM) techniques are being recognized as key to improved competitiveness in industry. These principles and techniques enable retention, sharing and systematic application of critical knowledge across geographic and temporal expanses. Five case studies of the application of KI/KM techniques are described, in the context of a university research group including students at all levels from sophomores to PhD candidates. Each case involved a major research experiment involving new measurement techniques, which had to be conducted during a specific time in a professional testing environment. To avoid missing many classes, each student could only participate for two days at most, so that each team member had to be well-informed. The processes used to develop each experiment, train the team and conduct the project are discussed in the paper. KI techniques included development of a Live Test Document, internet-based exchange of experimental details with the customers, mission planning using the internet, and training of the team using scaled mockups of the experimental configurations.

I. Introduction

Figure 1 uses the Knowledge Pyramid1 to articulate the vision of a major US corporation on the evolving role of engineers. To develop the products of the future technological marketplace, engineers must move ever higher on this pyramid. Along with curricular efforts to integrate knowledge, the university environment must seek ways by which students can gain experience of bringing multi-faceted projects to successful completion under realistic constraints of the professional workplace.

Figure 1: The evolving “Knowledge Worker”. Industry views a progression of the knowledge level of engineers from the “Methods & Analysis” level of the past to the “Analysis & Interpretation” level of today, on to the “Knowledge & Insight” functions of the future1. Knowledge management (KM) techniques2-6 are being recognized as key to improved competitiveness in industry. Where the capture and integration of the relevant knowledge is more important than its subsequent management, “Knowledge Integration” is a more relevant descriptor of the process. “KI/ KM” in this sense refers to principles and techniques which enable retention, sharing and systematic application of critical knowledge across geographic and temporal expanses. In this paper, examples are used to consider how such techniques function in the university environment, in solving problems.

Proceedings of the 2001 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition. Copyright ©2001 American Society for Engineering Education.

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Komerath, N. (2001, June), Knowledge Management Techniques In Experimental Projects Paper presented at 2001 Annual Conference, Albuquerque, New Mexico. 10.18260/1-2--9490