Author:
J. Pedro Mendes
Affiliation:
Instituto Superior Tecnico, Portugal
Keyword(s):
Knowledge Elicitation, Mental Models, Strategic Problems, Problem Symptoms, Problem Dynamics, Strategy Implementation.
Related
Ontology
Subjects/Areas/Topics:
Artificial Intelligence
;
KM Strategies and Implementations
;
Knowledge Management and Information Sharing
;
Knowledge-Based Systems
;
Learning Organization & Organizational Learning
;
Symbolic Systems
;
Tools and Technology for Knowledge Management
Abstract:
Strategic problems are difficult. They often only exist in the mental models of some top managers. They are typically too vague to be given a precise meaning, yet at the same time concrete enough to cause discomfort. They cannot be discarded but they cannot be tackled either because the means for diagnostic and solution are lacking. The body of knowledge of strategy offers little help, in the sense that a set of tools for strategic problem solving does not exist, in practice. In science and engineering, problem solving is model-based. In the past, the social sciences and management have discarded model building due to its inherent difficulties. Today, the means are available to elicit knowledge about the symptoms of strategic problems, create a model to obtain a solution, and produce an implementation plan.