While working through Knowing Knowledge, I spent a fair bit of time reflecting on knowledge products and knowledge processes. Most of us like products - they are clear, defined, structured, and ordered. A book, a magazine article, or a newscast are examples of products. The ideas and concepts have been put together for us by "experts". Our role is one of consuming the product.

There is nothing wrong with product views of knowledge (much of our cognitive effort is focused on meaning making (or derivation) - a task which is easier with products). The challenge arises when we encounter an environment where less and less of our knowledge work is product-based...shifting more to processes. The morning newspaper (product) has given way to a mess of emails, web-based news sites, and RSS feeds (process). We have an ongoing need to stay current (imagine the absurditiy of someone writing a book of stock prices on NASDAQ - due to the rapid fluctuations of share price, global market conditions, increased competition, fickle consumer demands, the book would be obsolete at the end of the first day of writing. I think more and more of our knowledge is like "stock market knowledge" - our task is to stay current of numerous factors that impact what we know now).

Getting back to Knowing Knowledge - my goal with the book is to start a process, not present it as the product at the end of a process. Once the book itself is complete (in a few weeks), it will be available in a wiki for others to add their thoughts and views. Particularly, case studies, practical experiences, etc. In my idealism, I hope that others will see the book as an invitation to a process of co-creation. As stated in a previous post, the wiki of the book should be available in a few weeks...