Abstract
In this paper we provide a guiding framework for understanding and selecting visual representations in the knowledge management (KM) practice. We build on an interdisciplinary analogy between two connotations of the notion of “scaffolding”: physical scaffolding from an architectural-engineering perspective and scaffolding of the “everyday knowing in practice” from a KM perspective. We classify visual structures for knowledge communication in teams into four types of scaffolds: grounded (corresponding e.g., to perspectives diagrams or dynamic facilitation diagrams), suspended (e.g., negotiation sketches, argument maps), panel (e.g., roadmaps or timelines) and reinforcing (e.g., concept diagrams). The article concludes with a set of recommendations in the form of questions to ask whenever practitioners are choosing visualizations for specific KM needs. Our recommendations aim at providing a framework at a broad-brush level to aid choosing a suitable visualization template depending on the type of KM endeavour.
Highlights
In her research, Wanda Orlikowski (2006) has elaborated on the fact that knowledge is not an external, enduring, or essential substance – but a dynamic and ongoing social accomplishment
She has focused on the “scaffolding of knowledgeability” and suggested that consideration of the distinguishing characteristics of physical scaffolds can offer intriguing insights into how everyday knowing in practice is materially scaffolded
The mounting or rolling consoles, which are an essential part of suspended physical scaffolds, may be metaphorically compared to the boundary objects necessary to make visual templates work in certain collaborative settings
Summary
Wanda Orlikowski (2006) has elaborated on the fact that knowledge is not an external, enduring, or essential substance – but a dynamic and ongoing social accomplishment. She has focused on the “scaffolding of knowledgeability” and suggested that consideration of the distinguishing characteristics of physical scaffolds can offer intriguing insights into how everyday knowing in practice is materially scaffolded. Our conceptual essay extracts the most relevant aspects of scaffolding from a building-industry perspective, at a broad-brush level, and highlights useful insights that KM practitioners can learn from. The section outlines some important functional features of the four physical scaffolding types and compares each of them to visualization templates for knowledge communication during team meetings
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