Proposal for DIAC-2008

Patterns, Knowledge Management and Collaborative Decision-Making in Community-Based Natural Resource Management

ABSTRACT:
Knowledge management (KM) tools have become an important feature in the organizational and decision-making apparatus within governments, industries of finance, banking and software. Recently, natural resource managers and international development practitioners have sought to apply these tools in the service of sustainable development and community-based natural resource management (CBNRM). However, current implementations have been arguably weak in relation to target audience, access to 'knowledge' and the types of content served by these systems. As an alternative approach to the configuration, development of content and semantic relation building of knowledge within such systems, this paper proposes the adoption of patterns and pattern languages as principle components of content, as well as a model for the overall structure of knowledge within these systems. With patterns serving as the primary model for content structure, it is possible further develop the knowledge base through the linkage to other forms of content such as spatial data, case-study reports and other information as needed.