Knowledge Master: cognitive maps and knowledge management

Knowledge Master cognitive maps are the ideal resource for knowledge management, offering the knowledge worker (knowledge manager or knowledge engineer) a graphical interface that permits direct observation and eases perception and direct manipulation of project organization and its sequences, cognitive functions, semantic search functions and data searches, templates for business intelligence and the possibility of contents management. The fact that the project structure is made of an organization of activities, their relations and corresponding values, spontaneously associates KM's cognitive maps to both knowledge management and project management.

These are precisely the tools the project manager needs, that in Knowledge Master are integrated with the unavoidable data tables for project organization. Table structures are defined by the project administrator.
Just like in Knowledge Management, the project manager can personalize its tables with the necessary data types. This way, a strategic association of knowledge and data can be obtained, useful in more than one organization or business type: The integration of logic, graphics and data tables.

It's difficult to find an activity sector (from businesses to elementary schools and libraries) where projects are not made. Projects always require analysis, organization and control and consume  time and human, material and financial resources. A relevant feature of project organization is timeliness, one of the most important objectives of control. Many functions in Knowledge Master (v. 13.0) have this scope. The efficiency of an organization so much depends on its efficacy in project fulfillment. After all, most activities in an organization can be considered "projects".

Besides improving efficacy, a correct project management permits saving time, human resources and money.

Knowledge Master offers functions that resolve most problems in project management:

• Classification of project elements. This facilitates the selection of classes and data on which to search and calculate. Classes can be graphically identified, for faster perception.
• Searching on specific fields.
• With Knowledge Master you can use layers (dimensions). Organizing it into layers, a project can be of any size, and you'll always have it at sight.
• Numerical calculations on data elements and columns. Make calculations changing project values to verify project alternatives, a sort of dynamic simulation. What would happen if the value of X would be...?
• Analyze data with the most common statistical functions.
• Creation of project schedule with several precision options.
• Export "the project" to important exchange formats such as XML, HTML, text, etc.
• Export project data tables to CSV format (accepted also by Excel and by most database systems).
• Identify, select and valorize paths in the project activity network.
• Access to ODBC databases.
• Creation of the project organization interactively or from external sources such as XML or structured text.
• Creation of project organization from a generic project template in Knowledge master that can also be adapted to specific project requirements.

A map example for project management with Knowledge Master may be downloaded from the page Example maps

The graphical example of data and knowledge active integration.

To whom is it useful project management with Knowledge Master?

• To organizations.
  • to businesses, for conventional projects (construction, etc.) and knowledge management projects.
  • To non-profit organizations.
  • To libraries and Information Centers.
• To consultants, for their own projects or their clients'.
• It's very useful to schools and universities that teach matters related to management of projects and organizations.
• To professionals.
• To whoever must analyze, organize and control projects.

Knowledge Master and Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK)

The Project Management Body of Knowledge is a collection of processes and knowledge areas generally accepted as best practice within the project management discipline. As an internationally recognized standard (IEEE Std 1490-2003), it provides the fundamentals of project management, irrespective of the type of project, be it construction, software, engineering, industrial, etc.

PMBOK recognizes 5 basic process groups and 9 knowledge areas typical of almost all projects:

The 5 basic process groups are:

1. Initiating Processes

2. Planning Processes

3. Executing  Processes

4. Monitoring and Controlling Processes

5. Closing Processes

Processes overlap and interact throughout the project or phase. Processes are described in terms of:

• Inputs (documents, plans, designs, etc)

• Tools, Techniques and Technologies (processes and mechanisms applied to inputs)

• Outputs (documents, products, etc).

The nine knowledge areas are:

1. Project Integration Management, orientated to keep a holistic view of project planning, execution and control as a whole

2. Project Scope Management, orientated to project requirements management

3. Project Time Management

4. Project Cost Management, orientated to cost planning and control

5. Project Quality Management, orientated to Quality Planning, Management and Control

6. Project Human Resource Management

7. Project Communications Management

8. Project Risk Management

9. Project Procurement Management

Each one of the cognitive areas contains some or all processes of Project Management..

Much of PMBOK is unique to project management. Some areas overlap with other management disciplines. General management also includes planning, organizing, staffing, executing and controlling the operations of an organization. Financial forecasting, organizations behavior and planning techniques are also similar.

How does Knowledge Master facilitate the application of Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) principles to Project Management?

» Knowledge Master also permits the description of processes in graphical form, establishing precedence and ways of communication between process operations, and between operations of different processes, and this way between processes.

» The possibility of structuring the whole project in dimensions (layers) permits the creation of a unique organization in which can be integrated:

• all groups of basic processes

• all knowledge areas

» Every project activity or process operation can have associated numerical, literal, logical, date and time attributes (values).

» All attributes can be used in calculations and searches.

» Knowledge Master offers an open operational interface, customizable, unlimited, ready for all project types.

» All project and process documentation can be associated to the corresponding nodes, to obtain a documentary repository structured to suit any type of process, operation or project.

» The possibility of exporting all contents to the most frequently used exchange formats, facilitates reusing project data and knowledge in other programs.

Consulting on Knowledge Management and Business Intelligence

Knowledge Master also offers in its contextual help, a guide about project initiation and a specialized glossary, that are for sure useful to both the expert and the novice project manager.

KM is autonomous, it doesn't need the presence of other programs for project management..

KM enterprise license users receive a specialized support service on project management.