Scottish toolkit for knowledge management.
BACKGROUND
Using specific examples, this paper describes the tools, methods and resources used to develop Managed Knowledge Networks (MKNs) within the NHS Scotland e-Library (http://www.elib.scot.nhs.uk). MKNs help to complete the knowledge management cycle by providing a place to share the learning and discuss the evidence for practice through combining the use of the published material (explicit knowledge) with the experience and knowledge held by individuals, communities and organizations (tacit knowledge).


OBJECTIVE
First of all, this paper outlines the e-Library infrastructure, which provides an inter-operable framework to manage the published knowledge using a metadata management system; and a knowledge-sharing tool to support the development of MKNs. It then covers the various stages involved in developing an MKN: gathering and analysing information needs in a variety of ways; presenting and organizing the resources and services for the users as identified in the needs analysis; managing the tacit, personal and local knowledge.


CONCLUSIONS
The toolkit described enables the Knowledge Services Group to take the needs of users, transcribe these into Specialist e-Libraries to provide access to the published information and to support this with accessing and sharing the knowledge of colleagues via MKNs.
Caldwell
Lynn
L
Knowledge Services Group, NHS Education for Scotland, Glasgow, UK.
Davies
Sandra
S
Stewart
Fiona
F
Thain
Annette
A
Wales
Ann
A
D003195:Computer Communication Networks; D003198:Computer Simulation; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007993:Libraries, Medical / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017145:Models, Educational; D017146:Models, Organizational; D016134:Organizational Policy; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016730:Program Development; D012606:Scotland; D013222:State Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration