1 UPGRADE is the European Online Magazine for the Information Technology Professional, published bimonthly at http://www.upgrade-cepis.org/ Publisher UPGRADE is published on behalf of CEPIS (Council of European Professional Informatics Societies, http://www.cepis.org/) by Novática (http://www.ati.es/novatica/) and Informatik/Informatique (http://www.svifsi.ch/revue/) Chief Editors François Louis Nicolet, Zurich <nicolet@acm.org> Rafael Fernández Calvo, Madrid <rfcalvo@ati.es> Editorial Board Prof. Wolffried Stucky, CEPIS President Gloria Nistal Rosique and Rafael Fernández Calvo, ATI Prof. Carl August Zehnder and François Louis Nicolet, SVI/FSI English Editors: Mike Andersson, Richard Butchart, David Cash, Arthur Cook, Tracey Darch, Laura Davies, Nick Dunn, Rodney Fennemore, Hilary Green Roger Harris, Michael Hird, Jim Holder, Alasdair MacLeod, Pat Moody, Adam David Moss, Phil Parkin, Brian Robson Cover page designed by Antonio Crespo Foix, © ATI 2002 Layout: Pascale Schürmann E-mail addresses for editorial correspondence: <nicolet@acm.org> and <rfcalvo@ati.es> E-mail address for advertising correspondence: <novatica@ati.es> Copyright © Novática and Informatik/Informatique. All rights reserved. Abstracting is permitted with credit to the source. For copying, reprint, or republication permission, write to the editors. The opinions expressed by the authors are their exclusive responsibility. The European Online Magazine for the IT Professional http://www.upgrade-cepis.org Vol. III, No. 1, February 2002 Joint issue with NOVÁTICA and INFORMATIK/INFORMATIQUE 2 Useful references on Knowledge Management – Xavier Alamán, Guest Editor 4 Knowledge Management and Information Technology: Relationship and Perspectives – Christopher Lueg, Guest Editor 8 Knowing is a Human Act – Richard McDermott Many companies discovered that leveraging knowledge using information technology involves community building as well as information technology. 11 The Paradox of “Knowledge Management” – Jacky Swan and Harry Scarbough An analysis of what is written in the name of on Knowledge Management reveals that Knowledge Management itself suffers from the problems it is trying to address. 15 State-of-Practice of Knowledge Management Systems: Results of an Empirical Study – Ronald Maier A empirical study in the German speaking countries shows that up to date information about the state-of-practice of KMS and barriers to their successful application is scarce. 24 Enabling Distributed Knowledge Management: Managerial and Technological Implications – Matteo Bonifacio, Paolo Bouquet and Paolo Traverso The architecture of KM systems reflects an objectivistic epistemology. Adopting such a view has dramatic consequences at an architectural, managerial and technological level. 31 Knowledge-Assisted Reverse Engineering of Virtual Work Processes – Robert P. Biuk-Aghai, Simeon J. Simoff and Ingrid Slembek A design approach for virtual workspaces, combines data mining techniques for refining lower-level models with a reverse engineering cycle to create upper-level models. 36 Data Mining of Collaborative Virtual Workspaces: The “Space-Data-Memory” Framework – Simeon J. Simoff and Robert P. Biuk-Aghai Research aims to extract insights from vast amounts of data about actions and content of collaborative project activities and reuse knowledge in the development of new workspaces. 40 Communication-oriented Computer Support for Knowledge Management – Volkmar Pipek and Markus Won We look at perspectives on support for knowledge management: communication on information artifacts, as information artifacts, and on infrastructures for information artifacts. 45 Some Critical Remarks in Favour of IT-Based Knowledge Management – Reinhard Riedl We shall discuss the state of the art in contemporary knowledge management with respect to processes, tools, people, and the role and potential impact of information technology. 51 Knowledge Management in a Law Firm – Cristina Rodríguez Morcón, José Pérez García, Juan Alberto Sigüenza Pizarro A legal knowledge management tool was developed is the result of the combined efforts of end users, knowledge management area, systems area and an external collaborating company. 56 SINTAGMA: From Information to Knowledge – Joaquín Bastos Amigo Sintagma is an integral information management platform. It is capable of completing 100% of the information cycle in a software solution. 60 IT Tools for Knowledge Management: A Study of the Current Situation – Ruth Cobos, José A. Esquivel and Xavier Alamán We describe a classification for KM systems based on the support the system gives to collaborative work and the focus it has on providing a structure for the knowledge. 66 Knowledge Management: A Trip Round Europe – Fabián García Pastor We take a look at knowledge management applications in Europe, their manufacturers and some of the main projects and lines of research. 72 Efficient Management of Multilingual Electronic Conferences – Daniel Pimienta, Catherine Dhaussy Web conferences often fail in communication aspects. We claim for an alternative approach focusing more on methodology than software to disseminate information. Knowledge Management and Information Technology Guest Editors: Christopher Lueg, Xavier Alamán Coming issue: “eXtreme Programming”