What is a Knowledge Warehouse?

A knowledge warehouse can be thought of as an "information repository" in which knowledge components are cataloged and stored for reuse. A knowledge warehouse enables a variety of different views of knowledge, useful in areas such as training or documentation. These views could be pre-set and organized by instructional designers or technical writers. Additionally, the knowledge warehouse could also support ad hoc queries, such as electronic performance support systems, intelligent help, or reference materials. Not incidentally, knowledge can be stored in several physical places, although that is not a requirement.

The knowledge warehouse consists of knowledge components (KCs) that are defined as the smallest level in which knowledge can be decomposed.

A knowledge warehouse parallels the idea of a data warehouse. A data warehouse is a repository for (usually corporate) data, that enables ad hoc queries and sophisticated decision support analysis. Within a data warehouse, data can physically reside on any number of computers. The data warehouse software "cleans" the data so that it can be shared across computers, handling issues of software compatibility. This permits information to be aggregated and analyzed. A major economic benefit of any database lies in storing information once, in a form that is accessible by other systems that need it. A database can produce pre-defined "views" of data, as in the case of departmental reports. A data warehouse can also support ad hoc queries to enable executives and decision makers to get at the data they need.

Data, Information, and Knowledge

The distinctions between data, information, and knowledge as technical terms are somewhat tenuous, but it is important to attempt to clarify the meanings.

Data consist of the measurement and "computerization of daily life." Data might be thought of as the atoms of knowledge. Data is typically what we attempt to gather and measure, such as age, size, or amount. Data by itself explain very little, it is the substance by which explanations are formed.

Information is "that which leads to understanding." Generally, information is considered to be organized and sorted data, that can be used for answering a specific question. Information is the aggregation and subsequent reduction of data, such as averages, trends, and percentages.

Knowledge may be thought of as information in use, or the set of rules and relationships that enable value added, skilled performance. Knowledge may consist of work procedures and processes, precedents, details and conceptual relationships between topics in a domain. Knowledge is often represented in the form of an expert's rules, although we now know that rules alone generally cannot produce expert behavior. Knowledge is a higher level aggregation and interpretation of information and data.

"Data is collected, sorted, grouped, analyzed and interpreted. When data is processed in this manner, it becomes information. Information contains substance and purpose. "Knowledge" is generated when information is combined with context and experience."