2016 International Conference on Information and Communication Technology (ICICTM), 16th - 17th May 2016, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Establishing of Knowledge Based

Framework for Situational Awareness Using
Nonaka's And Endsley's Models

Wan Su Emi Yusnita Wan Yusof, Omar Zakaria, Zuraini Zaino)

Department of Computer Science
Faculty of Defence Science and Technology
Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Abstract-Up to this moment, there is no knowledge model is chosen. Section V describes about the
based framework with situational awareness using the framework based on combinations between Nonaka's
combination of two models: Nonaka and Endsley. These model and Endsley's model. Section VI suggests the
models can assist our research in terms of collecting and
future research, and finally in section VII, the paper
transforming appropriate tacit knowledge into
is concluded with a brief summary.
enhancing the existing explicit knowledge. The existing
explicit knowledge can be found from training module II. TYPES OF KNOWLEDGE
(doctrines) or any relevant documents. However, tacit Knowledge usually divided into two types:
knowledge is not easily extracted due to being stored
explicit and tacit knowledge.
implicitly into the mind of the experienced staff.
Therefore, this paper explains the structured way on Explicit knowledge is a visible knowledge. It
how to collect appropriate tacit knowledge from the refers to written guidelines, which are readily
experienced staff.
available and can be easily passed on to others [1].
Keywords-Knowledge Based; Situational A warenes; For instance, in a company, the explicit knowledge
Nonaka's Model; Endsley's Model;framework contains the insurance policies, procedural guides,
reports, items, strategies, targets, core competencies
I. INTRODUCTION
of company, IT structured era. This implies that
Data (or more accurately a datum) is a collection
explicit knowledge is a tangible items where it can be
of facts, measurement and statistics, value, and by
retrieved from documented materials in various
itself this has no meaning[l].
forms [2].
Information is the data that has been processed.
On the other hand, tacit knowledge is an implicit
Information which is structured and organised as the
knowledge. This knowledge has personal and tacit
result of cognitive processing and validation becomes
elements where it cannot be made fully explicit [ 3]. It
knowledge[l].
is invisible and need a mechanism to decode it into
Knowledge is information that has been learned, an explicit knowledge. Furthermore, it is difficult to
in other words, knowledge is information in communicate tacit knowledge to others, as it is an
action[2]. Knowledge based (KB) is a process that analogue process that requires a kind of simultaneous
help organisation to manipulate important knowledge processing [4]. Furthermore tacit knowledge is stored
which is part of the individual memory, usually in the inside the individual's mind.
form of unstructured format. In order for an
Tacit knowledge may be the cumulative keep of
individual to be successful, knowledge must exist in a
the sUbjective or experiential mastering. Tacit it is
format that can be exchanged among person and it
often situated in the intellects of people who are the
also must be able to grow as well.
stakeholders. It is not easily recognised or
This paper is organised as follows: Section II acknowledged, however it can be the key factor in
discusses the types of knowledge. Then, section III enhancing the quality of strategic decisions made by
provides a description on the chosen Nonaka's the top management team [5]. Furthermore, it
model. Section IV explains about why Endsley's includes the organisational culture which reflects the

The authors would like to thank the Ministry of Higher

Education for providing us grant: NRGS/2013/UPNM/PKJP3 in
order to perform this research in Universiti Pertahanan Nasional
Malaysia (UPNM).

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978-1-5090-0412-6/16/$31.00 ©2016 IEEE
2016 International Conference on Information and Communication Technology (ICICTM), 16th - 17th May 2016, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

past and present experiences of the organisation's • Externalisation

staffs and operations, as well as the prevailing values.
This knowledge is a highly personal and because it is Externalisation is the process of articulating tacit
unstructured, it is difficult to ratify or classify. knowledge into explicit knowledge. When tacit
knowledge is made explicit, it allows to be shared by
Knowledge can be represented in various
others and it becomes the basis of new knowledge
models: Nonaka, Botha, Bukowitz and Matrix.
[4]. Based on the collected tacit information, this
Hence, in the next section, we will review the
information should be kept in various forms such as
Nonaka's model.
video, audio recording or in writing.
III. WHY NONAKA'S MODEL IS CHOSEN?
An organisation creates knowledge through the • Combination
interactions between explicit knowledge and tacit
knowledge [4]. According to Nonaka [2000], the Combination is the process of converting explicit
interaction between these two types of knowledge is knowledge into more complex and systematic sets of
known as knowledge conversion. In this conversion explicit knowledge [4]. Furthermore, peacekeeping
process, the explicit and tacit knowledge expand in explicit knowledge is collected and recorded from the
both quantity and quality. inside or outside of the organisation where it will
then be combined, edited and processed to form new
Figure 1 shows four modes of knowledge
knowledge. This means that the information should
conversion. The fIrst mode is a socialisation from
be stored into the database.
tacit knowledge to tacit knowledge. Second mode is
externalisation from tacit knowledge to explicit
• Internalisation
knowledge. The third mode is a combination from
explicit knowledge to explicit knowledge and [mally,
Internalisation is a process of embodying explicit
the last mode is internalisation from explicit

r
knowledge into tacit knowledge. Through this mode,
knowledge to tacit knowledge.
explicit knowledge created is shared throughout an
Tacit Tacit ====il organisation and converted into tacit knowledge by
Socialisation Externalisation individuals [4]. It would be the process of learning by
I ... doing which explicit information becoming unique
through exercise and changing into tacit information.
.�
>-
This research will store the knowledge in the
database and it will then be applied into the rugged
tablet. This will make it easier to refer back into
Malaysian infantry observers and troops.

.� Figure 2 illustrates the processes in

>-

Internalisation Combination Nonaka's model and interpretation using an example

J
from this research. Socialisation is interpreted as a

t, Explicit Explicit
transform tacit knowledge in the Malaysian infantry
observers and troop's mind to researcher's tacit
Fig. 1. Nonaka's SECI Model adopted from (Nonaka, \995) knowledge. For externalisation interpretation, it is a
recorded data which has been written. Meanwhile for
• Socialisation the combination, the data is converted into
meaningful information and information has been
Socialisation is the process of converting new tacit stored in the database. Then for internalisation, the
knowledge through shared experiences [4]. In this database will then be applied in the development of
study, tacit knowledge is captured from the mind of software for rugged tablet.
Malaysian infantry employees known as the observer
and troops. The next step is to transform the tacit
knowledge into the form of explicit knowledge. This
tacit knowledge should be shared with researchers as
the tacit knowledge.

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2016 International Conference on Information and Communication Technology (ICICTM), 16th - 17th May 2016, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

comprehension of the current situation and fmal level

is a projection of future status.

Situation Awareness

Leytl1 �..
Perception r
Lo"o' 2
c----.
--------... levol 3
----,--.,.. P�.ctlon

Fig. 3. Endsley's Model adopted from (Endsley, 1995)

• Perception

The first step in achieving SA is to perceive the

status, attributes, and dynamics of relevant elements
in the environment [7]. The observer and troops
would perceive elements such as current states,
threat, object, people, events and system. At this

Fig. 2. A knowledge based framework using Nonaka's model level, the processes included are monitoring, cue
detection and simple recognition.
Based on the above review, applying the
Nonaka's model is not adequate to transform the tacit • Comprehension
knowledge into explicit knowledge. This is because
Comprehension of the situation is based on a
relying on a pure explicit knowledge does help to
synthesis of disjointed level elements. Level 2 SA
make an appropriate decision making.
goes beyond simply being aware of the elements that
are presented to include an understanding of the
Therefore, in this research, we would like to
significance of those elements in light of pertinent
adapt an appropriate situational awareness model
operator goals [7]. Based on knowledge on level 1
such as the Endsley's model. This model will help to
elements, observers and troops can be grouped
assist us in the decision making process.
together to form patterns with other elements. They
IV. WHY ENDSLEY'S MODEL IS CHOSEN? can make pattern recognition, interpret the pattern
Situation awareness involves being aware of and make an evaluation before make the decision.
what is happening in the environment and Furthermore the observers and troops may list out the
determining how information, events, and actions, possible actions.
and others will impact the situation in the present and
• Projection
near future[ 6].
This level involves the ability to project the future
Although numerous defmitions of situational
actions of the elements in the environment [7].
awareness have been proposed, Endsley defmed
Hence, the observers and troops can list the possible
situation awareness (SA) is the perception of the
actions and later, they can make a good decision
elements in the environment within a volume of time
making after all the considerations.
and space, the comprehension of their meaning, and
the projection of their status in the near future[7]. Based on the above review, it can be concluded
Furthermore, SA is an important construct for that observers and troops must observe the
understanding the link between cognitive processes, environment, then they must understand each
decision-making, and performance in modern situation and also they can list the all the possible
military operations [8]. In this research, it is actions that are valuable for decision making.
important to show a structured way on how to
manipulate the results from adapting Nonaka's model
in order to assist us in making an appropriate decision V. A FRAMEWORK BASED ON
making. COMBINAnON NONAKA'S MODEL
WITH ENDSLEY'S MODEL
Figure 3 shows the Endsley's model. SA consists
Figure 4 shows a combination of two models,
of three levels: Level 1 is a perception of the
namely the model of Nonaka and Endsley model.
elements in the environment. Level 2 is about
Referring to the figures, Endsley model was

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2016 International Conference on Information and Communication Technology (ICICTM), 16th - 17th May 2016, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

combined within an externalisation and combination peacekeeping operations. The scope of this
mode. There are three levels of Endsley model which knowledge will focus on eight core areas in
are perception level l, level 2 comprehension and peacekeeping operations such as observing and
level 3 projection. Based on the understanding of this monitoring, patrolling, control of movement, search
study, level 1 is dealing with "observe the operations, negotiation, escorting, show of force and
environment". While for level 2 is dealing with cordon.
"understand each situation" and in level 3 is "list the
VII. CONCLUSION
possible action".
This paper combines between Nonaka's and
During the process of conversion mode within Endsley's model. These new models will improve the
externalisation and combination, researcher will traditional model of knowledge creation on SECI
collect the tacit knowledge with respect to situational model by adding the enhanced element of situational
awareness of a situation faced by the observers and awareness. Moreover the authors point out on the
troops before entering the combination mode. For important stages that must fulfilled before
example, the situation that was faced by an observer accomplishing the goal7
during the process of negotiation of the contentious
two parties, observers should be asked about what
had happened between the two parties and why these ACKNOWLEDGMENT
situations occurred. Based on the previous observer's The authors would like to thank the Ministry of
experience, the observer will approach the Higher Education for providing us grant:
reconciliation process by inviting the heads of the NRGS/2013/UPNMlPKJP3 in order to perform this
warring factions for a drink together and find a research in Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia
solution. The approach often manages to persuade (UPNM).
both sides to refrain from any form of violence at
each other in the future.
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knowledge based on the situational awareness in the

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