Tools for Knowledge
Work
Miles Metcalfe, 2008-10-15

Knowledge work
• Coined by management theorist Peter
Drucker 50 years ago
• People are employed for what’s in their head
rather than for manual labour, or following
someone’s process
• Supposed to be more empowered when
self-managing

Epistemology
• Empiricism (observe the facts)
• Rationalism (think things through)
• Constructivism (formulate new ideas)

Key Ravensbourne tools
• search.rave.ac.uk
• intranet.rave.ac.uk
• confluence.rave.ac.uk
• learn.rave.ac.uk
• forums.rave.ac.uk
• survey.rave.ac.uk

Search
• First port of call for finding out information
• Use the search box
• Use Google
• Search shortcuts

Search demo

Creating content
• Intranet: Contribute. Formal workflow.
• Others (Forums, Confluence, Learn) are
web-form based. Less formal.

Content demo

Everyday tools
• On the web:
• Search
• Restricting by site
• CC search
• Bookmarking

Demo

Everyday tools
• In email:
• Filters
• Priorities
• Tags

Demo

Everyday tools
• Microsoft Office:
• Document properties
• Microsoft Word:
• Outline view
• Headings and Tables of Contents
• Styles

Demo

RSS – internet your way
• RSS: really simple syndication
• Subscribe to “web feeds”
• Stay up to date
• Lots of other cool stuff

Demo

Social bookmarking
• Save your bookmarks on line
• Access from any browser
• Share with co-workers
• Mine knowledge other people have saved
and commented
• Subscribe via RSS!

Demo

Tools to get
• Social bookmarking
• iGoogle
• Google Reader – get started with RSS
• Doodle – easier scheduling?

Badger ICT for...
• An RSS reader
• Firefox
• Thunderbird
• Pidgin/Adium

Thanks!