In knowledge management, it has long been proven that its value increases when it is structured and available at the right time. But what is more important is that knowledge does not exist in a vacuum. It is linked to people, their experiences and the context in which it is applied. In this sense, knowledge management methodologies such as Nonaka and Takeuchi’s SECI model, Etienne Wenger’s concept of communities of practice and KCS’s principles of collective experience emphasize the need not only to structure information, but also to create links between knowledge and people.
The social dimension of knowledge in the Conoted application
- Conoted offers to connect individual notes with other users. The system recommends the most relevant experts on the topic of the note, using data from both the personal contact network and the public social graph. The user can look at the profile of a potential expert, study their interests and the notes they have created before deciding to add a connection.
- This process creates a dynamic knowledge network that connects not only information, but also people with expertise in different fields. Once a connection is established with a note, users can be added to personal contacts, which helps form communities of interests and issues.
The SECI Model: Transforming Tacit Knowledge into Explicit.
The functionality of linking notes to people in Conoted closely echoes the SECI model developed by Japanese researchers Ikujiro Nonaka and Hirotaka Takeuchi. This model describes the process of creating organizational knowledge through the interaction between explicit and tacit knowledge.
The four stages of the SECI model are:
Socialization
This stage involves the transfer of tacit knowledge from one person to another through collaborative activities, observation, and imitation. In the context of Conoted, linking a note to an expert initiates the socialization process, creating an opportunity for informal knowledge exchange.
Externalization
This stage transforms tacit knowledge into explicit knowledge through its articulation and formalization. By linking a note to an expert, the user can access his formalized knowledge and stimulate him to further externalize tacit knowledge.
Combination
The stage where explicit knowledge is systematized and new knowledge is created through its combination. The network of linked notes and experts in Conoted creates a favorable environment for combining knowledge from different sources.
Internalization
The final stage where explicit knowledge is transformed into tacit knowledge through practical application. Interaction with experts through Conoted promotes deeper understanding and assimilation of knowledge.
- The SECI model is a continuous spiral in which knowledge is constantly transformed and enriched through human interaction. Linking notes to experts in Conoted fits organically into this spiral, accelerating the processes of knowledge creation and dissemination.
Communities of Practice by Etienne Wenger
Another methodological basis for the functionality of linking notes to people in Conoted is the concept of communities of practice developed by Etienne Wenger. According to this concept, knowledge is always acquired in a specific context, and to effectively acquire it, one must participate in real activities with other practitioners.
Key points of the concept of communities of practice:
- Knowledge and practical skills are closely related to the area of their application.
- Cognition is inseparable from the context in which it occurs.
- It is impossible to have abstract knowledge outside of a specific context.
- To master a tool, it is necessary to perceive the culture of its use through interaction with a community.
- Learning is largely a process of socialization.
- By linking notes with experts in Conoted, users actually form virtual communities of practice around specific topics and problems. This creates an environment for contextual learning and the transfer of both explicit and tacit knowledge.
Collective experience in KCS
- The concept of collective experience, which is the basis of the Knowledge-Centered Service (KCS) approach, is also directly related to the social dimension of knowledge management in Conoted. According to this concept, "the more people who share their expertise, the more complete and accurate the knowledge base will be."
- KCS is based on the principle that the best people to create and maintain knowledge are those who use it every day. In Conoted, this principle is realized by the ability to link notes to active experts in the relevant fields.
- The key difference between KCS and the traditional knowledge management approach is the transition from a few-to-many model to a many-to-many model. This is completely in line with the Conoted philosophy, where each user can simultaneously be both a creator and a consumer of knowledge, interacting with other participants.
Why it’s important to link notes to people
Integrating social aspects into the note management system, as implemented in Conoted, has several fundamental advantages:
- Knowledge enrichment through diversified perspectives
Linking notes to different experts allows you to consider a topic from different perspectives, which contributes to a deeper and more complex understanding. Collective experience is always richer and more accurate than the knowledge of one person, even if he is an expert.
- Accelerate the process of creating new knowledge
The SECI model shows that new knowledge is created through interactions between people in the process of transforming explicit and tacit knowledge. Linking notes to experts catalyzes this process, creating conditions for rapid exchange and combination of knowledge.
- Building contextual understanding
According to the concept of communities of practice, knowledge is inseparable from the context of its application. Interacting with experts through Conoted allows you to access not only formalized knowledge, but also the context of its use, which is critical for a full understanding.
- Building Dynamic Communities of Interest
The People-Linking functionality enables organic communities to form around specific topics and issues. These communities become environments for continuous learning and collective problem solving.
Conclusion
- The People-Linking functionality in Conoted represents an innovative approach to knowledge management that goes beyond the traditional Zettelkasten system. It is based on a deep understanding of the social nature of knowledge and is supported by established methodologies such as the SECI model, the concept of communities of practice, and the principles of KCS.
- In a world of increasing information complexity and specialization, effective knowledge management is impossible without a social dimension. Knowledge does not exist in a vacuum – it is created, transformed, and enriched through human interaction. The People-Linking functionality in Conoted harnesses this potential of collective intelligence, creating a dynamic knowledge ecosystem that continuously evolves and adapts.
