PM Knowledge Management
By David Curling
In handling documents for posting on the PMFORUM we constantly asked the question. How do we classify the PM knowledge stored in the PMFORUM Directories? There are no easy answers to the management of creating, maintaining, organizing, classifying, representing, storing, querying, retrieving, analyzing and presentation of PM Knowledge.
Max Wideman has recently struggled with this issue for his PM Repository site. In the October 02 Issue of the PM World Today he discussed the approach taken in the preparation of a new site map.
The classification structures for PM knowledge can take many forms, both graphic and text. While academics have useful thoughts on the future of Artificial Intelligence and the imminent use of Extensible Markup Language (XML) the problem of PM knowledge management is current, real and we must look to the best available solutions.
For example, a web search using the string 'Knowledge Management' provided a basic list of web sites dedicated to the study and advancement of web Knowledge Management [ See this list dated 29 July 2002 ] That is, some general thoughts on the management of knowledge without reference to the specific domain of Project Management Knowledge Management.
The formal name for knowledge management classification structure is called taxonomy. The PMFORUM has no overall taxonomy other than that of web page metadata tags. Accordingly, each Directory of the PMFORUM has particular taxonomy. For example,
- The Profession Directory. This Directory uses a classification structure of the topics surrounding the process of project management professionalism. That is, accreditation, certification, learning and standards.
- The PM Practices Directory (APMA). This Directory uses the taxonomy devised by Max Wideman in his seminal paper on the subject. Here Max Wideman has devised a schema for the classification of areas of project management application. This schema is used to store PM information that is considered particular to an area of project management practice.
- The PM Practices Directory (GAPMP) This Directory is a of listing those project management practices which have been “generally accepted” as practices useful to the management of projects. This listing follows that of the Project Management Institute’s Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK®) areas of knowledge and some PMFORUM extensions into other well known practices of particular fields of project management.
- Site Map. A graphic representation of the PMFORUM Directories. This "map" provides a structure for the location of information on the PMFORUM. It is general in nature and aligns with the main Directories of the PMFORUM.
- Web Page Metadata. Every attempt has been made to locate metadata tags on each page of the PMFORUM. These metatags provide a description of the content and keywords for each page. While the individual tags are invisible to the web page user they are necessary to successful to the full text indexing of the page by web robots of Internet Search Engines.
- Expert Resources Directory. This is a classification of project management vendors services. It is an arbitrary classification schema that over time has worked reasonably well. Vendors are classified by type of services supplied: consulting, careers, software applications, information technology, training and general support services.
- Site Search Engine. The text of each web page is indexed and retrieval is particular to the use of the indexing of text and use of keywords for retrieval. A fuzzy search is not possible at this time.
- Case Studys/Project Briefs. A regular monthly feature of the Project Management World Today magazine is a description of project management cases and individual project briefs. These descriptions and accompanying documents are product oriented and therefore amenable to classification as industry/agencies output. The PMFORUM uses the American Industry Classification System to identify web pages and documents which deal with project management outputs described in case studys and project briefs..
It would be nice of there was a generally accepted taxonomy for project management knowledge on the Internet. Unfortunately this is not the case. For example, it would be very useful to have a basic set of metadata fields and a Document Template Description that would apply only to the field of project management. Further, it would be useful if the emergent Extensible Markup Language (XML) was to be adopted to provide us with a tool both for preparation and retrieval of Internet PM knowledge.
Pacific Edge Software has provided leadership to a Project Management Extensible Markup Language (PMXML) Consortium. The purpose of this Consortium is "the development of an industry standard that will enable easy access to data between different information systems".Currently the Consortium is open to any organization interested in the ongoing development of a new PMXML Standard. The schema and its source is on line at http://www.pmxml.com/xml
Mike Metcalf of Pacific Edge Software says " Organizations need immediate access to data pertinent to their project portfolios .... the only way to provide flexibility and control is to creat an industry standard that enables data exchange between whatever applications a company chooses to use."
However, we must work with what we have and the PMFORUM is taking a “little steps” approach to implementing the practical but keeping a listening brief on the more theoretical thesis for improved Internet PM Knowledge management.
About the Author
David Curling is Editor of the Project Management World Today and Webmaster
of the PMFORUM. He has been a professional soldier, systems engineer, logistics
engineer, procurement executive, senior public servant and project manager
He is Executive Director of LODAY Systems Ltd. and provides project management
consulting to both government and industry. David has particular expertise
in the management of major international projects.