Knowledge Based Management System & Tech: Dr. Humera Farooq

Discovering Knowledge
Knowledge Based
Management
System & Tech
Dr. Humera Farooq
© Bahria University 2018 Department of Computer Science | Bahria University 1

Knowledge Capturing Techniques

Chapter Outline
• Brainstorming (Conventional & Electronic)
• Protocol Analysis
• Consensus Decision Making
• Nominal Group Technique
• Delphi Method
• Repertory Grid
• Concept Mapping
• Blackboarding
• On-site Observation (Action Protocol)
Brainstorming
• It is an unstructured approach
towards generating ideas about
creative solution of a problem which
involves multiple experts in a session.
• In this case, questions can be raised
for clarification, but no evaluations
are done at the spot.
• Similarities (that emerge through
opinions) are usually grouped
together logically and evaluated by
asking some questions like:

Brainstorming
• What benefits are to be gained if a particular idea is
followed.
• What specific problems that idea can possibly solve.
• What new problems can arise through this.

Role of Knowledge Developer in

Brainstorming Session
• The general procedure for conducting a
brainstorming session:
– Introduce and coordinate the brainstorming session
– Presenting the problem to the expert
– Prompt experts to generate ideas
– Watch for signs of possible convergence
• If the experts are unable to agree on a specific
solution then Knowledge developer may call for a
vote to reach agreement
Electronic Brainstorming
• Computer-aided approach to
brainstorming for dealing with
multiple experts.
• Usually begins with a pre-session
plan which identifies objectives
and structures the agenda, which
is need to approved by the
experts
• Promote instant exchange of
ideas between experts

• During the session, each expert sits
on a PC and get themselves engaged
in a predefined approach towards
resolving an issue, and then generates
ideas.
• This allows experts to present their
opinions through their PC's without
having to wait for their turn.
• Usually the comments/suggestions
are displayed electronically on a large
screen without identifying the source.

• This approach protects the
introvert experts and prevents
tagging comments to individuals
• The benefit includes improved
communication, effective
discussion regarding sensitive
issues, and closes the meeting
with concise recommendations
for necessary action
• Shorter meeting with concise
recommendations
Electronic Brainstorming (Ex.)

• An example of a software supporting E-brainstorming
• A session can present a number of electronic sheets to
collect ideas from the participants.

Electronic Brainstorming (Ex.)

• Participants enter ideas in one sheet while reading
ideas that have already been entered.
• Knowledge developer provides guidance on exactly
how this activity will function.

Protocol Analysis
• In this case, protocols (scenarios) are collected by asking
experts to solve the specific problem and verbalize their
decision process by stating directly what they think.
• Knowledge developers do not interrupt in the interim.
• The elicited information is structured later when the
knowledge developer analyzes the protocol.
• A scenario can involve individuals and objects.
– A scenario provides a concrete vision of how some specific
human activity can be supported by information technology.

Consensus Decision Making

• Consensus is a process for group
decision-making
• Input of all participants are gathered
and synthesized to arrive at a final
decision, that is acceptable to all
• Through consensus, not only
achieve better solutions, but also
promote community and trust
• As a tool, it follows brainstorming

Consensus Procedure (Steps 1-4)

1. A proposal for resolution is put forward
2. Amend and modify proposal through
discussion
3. Those participants who disagree with the
proposal have the responsibility to put
forward alternative proposals
4. The one who put forward the proposal, with
help of facilitator, can choose to withdraw
proposal if seems to be dead end.
Consensus Procedure (Steps 5-8)

5. When a proposal seems to be well understood
and no new changes asked for, the facilitator
confirm any objections
6. If no objections, the facilitator can call for
consensus
7. If there are still no objections, then after a
moment of silence, you have the decision
8. If consensus appears to have reached, the
facilitator repeats the decision so everyone is
clear
Nominal Group Technique (NGT)

• This provides an interface between
consensus and brainstorming.
• Here the panel of experts becomes a
Nominal Group whose meetings are
structured in order to effectively pool
individual judgment.
NWRI-USA  2003
• Ideawriting is a structured group
approach used for developing ideas as
well as exploring their meaning and the
net result is usually a written report.
• NGT is an ideawriting technique.
NGT (Steps 1-7)

1. Divide the people present into small groups of 5 or 6
members, sitting around a table
2. State an open-ended question (“What are some
ways we could encourage people to car pool?”)
3. Have each Person spend several minutes in silence
individually brainstorming all possible ideas and
write these ideas down
4. Have each group, collect the ideas by sharing them
in a round-robin fashion, while recording them on a
flipchart

NGT (Steps 5-7)

5. Have each Person evaluate the ideas and
anonymously vote for the best ones (e.g., best idea
gets 8 points, next best 7 points, third best 6 points,
etc)
6. Share votes within the group and tabulate. A
group report is prepared showing the ideas having
most points.
7. Allow time for brief group presentations on their
solutions.

NGT (Advantages)
• Effective in minimizing differences in status among
multiple experts
• Each expert has an equal chance to express ideas in
parallel with other experts in the group(s)
• With the discussion proceeds in controlled order, it
can be more efficient and productive than
brainstorming

NGT (Drawbacks)
• Technique can be time consuming
• Could promote impatience among experts who

must listen to discussions with other experts
• With multiple experts sharing expertise, a cause of

difficulty in adopting the best solution

Delphi Method
• A survey of experts
• A series of questionnaires
developed to pool experts’
responses in solving a difficult
problem
• Each expert’s contributions shared
with rest of experts by using results
of one questionnaire to construct
the next questionnaire

Delphi Method (Pros and Cons)

Pros
• Anonymous response
• Controlled feedback
• Statistical group response
Cons
• Poorly designed questionnaire can be ineffective in
capturing the complexity of the problem domain
• Experts may lack complete knowledge to base their
answers
The Repertory Grid

• Is a method for eliciting personal ideas, i.e. what
people think about a given topic.
• This is a tool used for knowledge capture.
• An expert conceptualizes the problem using his or
her own model
• Grid used to facilitate the capture and evaluation of
the expert’s model
• The grid is a scale (or a bipolar construct) on which
elements can be placed within gradations.

The Repertory Grid

• Two experts (in the same problem domain) may
produce distinct sets of personal and subjective
results.
• A representation of the experts’ reasoning about a
particular problem
• The knowledge developer usually elicits the
constructs and then asks the domain expert to
provide a set of examples called elements.
• Each element is rated according to the constructs
which have been provided.
Job Interview Rating Repertory Grid (Example)

Construct
T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6
A. Inexperience 3 3 1 1 1 1
B. Academically Scale: 1 to 3
2 1 2 1 1 3
Ill-qualified
C. Poor
3 2 1 2 1 3
Appearance
D. Not punctual 2 3 2 3 1 1
E. Introverted 2 3 2 2 1 1
Dixie
John
Barry
Curt
Lester
Joanne

The Repertory Grid (Pros and Cons)

• Benefit: may prompt the expert to think more
concretely about the problem and how to solve it.
• Drawback: difficult to manage when large grids are
accompanied by complex details
• Because of complexity and manageability, the tool
is normally used in the early stages of knowledge
capture

Concept Mapping
• A network of concepts, consisting of nodes and
links
• A node represents a concept and a link represents
the relationship between concepts.
• Concept mapping is designed to transform new
concepts/propositions into the existing cognitive
structures related to knowledge capture.
• It is a structured conceptualization.
• It is an effective way for a group to function
without losing their individuality.
Concept Mapping
• Concept mapping can be done for several
reasons: :
– design a complex structure (Web sites)
– generate or communicate ideas (e.g., during
brainstorming)
– diagnose misunderstanding

Concept Mapping
• Six-step procedure for using a concept map
as a tool:
– Preparation.
– Idea generation.
– Statement structuring.
– Representation.
– Interpretation
– Utilization.

Concept Mapping
• Similar to concept mapping, a semantic net is a
collection of nodes linked together to form a
net.
– A knowledge developer can graphically represent
descriptive/declarative knowledge through a net.
– Each idea of interest is usually represented by a
node linked by lines (called arcs) which shows
relationships between nodes.
– Fundamentally it is a network of concepts and
relationships
Concept Map - A Simple Example

Steps in Concept Mapping

1 Preparation of Project
Participants, focus, schedule
2
Idea Generation
6
(focus for brainstorming)
Utilization
STEPS IN
CONCEPT
MAPPING 3
Idea Structuring
(sorting/rating
5 4
statements)
Interpretation Representation
(cluster analysis)

Blackboarding (Groupware)
• Participants are assumed
experts with unique
experience
• Each expert has equal chance
to contribute to the solution
via the blackboard
• Process continues until the
problem has been solved
Join Information Technologies  2003

Blackboarding (Characteristics)
• Characteristics of blackboard system:
– Diverse approaches to problem-solving.
– Common language for interaction.
– Efficient storage of information
– Flexible representation of information.
– Iterative approach to problem-solving.
– Organized participation.

Blackboarding (Components)
• Components of blackboard system:
1. The Knowledge Source (KS): Each KS is an independent
expert observing the status of the blackboard and trying to
contribute a higher level partial solution based on the
knowledge it has and how well such knowledge applies to
the current blackboard state.
2. A Control Mechanism: It coordinates the pattern and flow
of the problem solution.
3. The Blackboard : It is a global memory structure, a
database, or a repository that can store all partial solutions
and other necessary data that are presently in various
stages of completion.
Blackboarding (Components)
• The inference engine and the knowledge base
are part of the blackboard system.
• This approach is useful in case of situations
involving multiple expertise, diverse
knowledge representations, or situations
involving uncertain knowledge
representation.

On-Site Observation
• It is a process which involves observing, recording,
and interpreting the expert's problem-solving
process while it takes place.
• Places the knowledge developer closer to the
actual steps and procedures used by the experts
– The knowledge developer does more listening than
talking; avoids giving advice and usually does not pass
his/her own judgment on what is being observed, even
if it seems incorrect; and most of all, does not argue
with the expert while the expert is performing the
task.
On-Site Observation
• Compared to the process of interviewing, on-
site observation brings the knowledge
developer closer to the actual steps,
techniques, and procedures used by the
expert.

On-Site Observation (cont)

Problems:
• Some experts do not like to be observed
• Reactions from peers during observation can be
distracting
• Another disadvantage is the
accuracy/completeness of the captured knowledge.

Knowledge Capturing Techniques

Knowledge Based Management System & Tech: Dr. Humera Farooq

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Discovering Knowledge

Dr. Humera Farooq

© Bahria University 2018 Department of Computer Science | Bahria University 1

Knowledge Capturing Techniques

© Bahria University 2018 Department of Computer Science | Bahria University 2

© Bahria University 2018 Department of Computer Science | Bahria University 4

© Bahria University 2018 Department of Computer Science | Bahria University 5

Role of Knowledge Developer in

© Bahria University 2018 Department of Computer Science | Bahria University 7

© Bahria University 2018 Department of Computer Science | Bahria University 8

Electronic Brainstorming (Ex.)

© Bahria University 2018 Department of Computer Science | Bahria University 10

Electronic Brainstorming (Ex.)

© Bahria University 2018 Department of Computer Science | Bahria University 11

© Bahria University 2018 Department of Computer Science | Bahria University 12

Consensus Decision Making

© Bahria University 2018 Department of Computer Science | Bahria University 13

Consensus Procedure (Steps 1-4)

Consensus Procedure (Steps 5-8)

Nominal Group Technique (NGT)

NGT (Steps 1-7)

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NGT (Steps 5-7)

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• Could promote impatience among experts who

• With multiple experts sharing expertise, a cause of

© Bahria University 2018 Department of Computer Science | Bahria University 20

© Bahria University 2018 Department of Computer Science | Bahria University 21

Delphi Method (Pros and Cons)

The Repertory Grid

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The Repertory Grid

Job Interview Rating Repertory Grid (Example)

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The Repertory Grid (Pros and Cons)

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© Bahria University 2018 Department of Computer Science | Bahria University 29

Concept Map - A Simple Example

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Steps in Concept Mapping

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On-Site Observation (cont)

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Knowledge Capturing Techniques

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