Digitalization is disrupting knowledge work similar to other industries. Key trends include: 1. Infrastructure as code allows electronically executable artifacts like workflows to automate tasks. 2. DevOps blurs lines between developers and operations through mixed teams and automation. 3. The internet of things connects everyday objects to networks and makes working with digital information more natural. 4. Deep learning enables computers to learn autonomously like humans, changing some jobs while creating new ones requiring high skills.

1. Knowledge Management 4.0
Lessons learnt from IT trends
Prof. Dr. René Peinl Graz, 18.10.2016

2. What does digitalization means?
• Digitally creating, managing and storing data and documents?
• Working together by means of electronic media?
• Digital communication with Twitter, email, Facebook and Skype?
• It’s much more than that
– Digitalization is going to disrupt the world of knowledge
workers in the same way it already did for many industries
e.g. media, commerce and communication
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3. Infrastructure as Code
• Common meaning
automating installation and configuration of an application and the network / VM
• Translation to knowledge work
– instead of writing down instructions,
electronically executable artifacts are created
– Examples:
• BPMN workflows
• CMMN case models
• DMN decision tables
• Data analysis workbooks
• Customized / enhanced applications
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4. DevOps
• Common meaning
closer cooperation between developers and operators by either forming mixed
teams or automating operations by developers with operations knowledge
• Translation to knowledge work
– Despite the need for deep knowledge in one area,
growing need for shallow knowledge in related areas
– Examples
• Legal
• Psychological
• Economical
• Industries / production
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5. Internet of Things
• Common meaning
everyday things that used to work electronical up to now have a small computer
inside and are connected to a network, addressable and communicate using
open standard protocols
• Translation to knowledge work
– Computers as used today will move to the background and working with
digital information will become more natural, embedded into the working
environment
– Examples
• Easy transfer of data from personal devices to shared spaces and back
• Conversational user interfaces (e.g. Amazon Echo / Alexa, Viv)
• VR / AR / MR reality for more immersive digital experiences
• Fostering knowledge creation / remembering through physical context
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6. Audi trains sales people in real cars but VR danger
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http://mancve.com/2016/07/audi-vitrac-experience-vr-brille/

7. Augmented Reality (here with Moverio)
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http://www.digitalavmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Epson-Moverio-Pro-BT-2000.jpg

8. Mixed Reality (e.g. with MS Hololens)
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https://compass-ssl.surface.com/assets/4f/10/4f10562a-d446-40c7-a0d0-3ea5f5cda537.jpg

9. Deep learning
• Common meaning
computers learn to learn relations on their own, making them more similar to
human understanding
• Translation to knowledge work
– Certain jobs of knowledge workers will get obsolete and (less) new ones
are created (which might be good due to lack of qualified employees)
– Examples
• Attorney assistants, medical professionals or financial analysts
• Data scientists, knowledge engineers, trainer for neural networks, …
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new job requiring
new high skills
existing job
requiring high skills
existing job requiring
medium skills
former job requiring
low skills lost to automation
training
highly skilled employee medium skilled employee low skilled employee
trainingtraining

10. Hof University
Alfons-Goppel-Platz 1
95028 Hof, Germany
rene.peinl@hof-university.de
www.hof-university.de
Phone +49 9281 409-3000
Fax +49 9281 409-4000
Digitalization will help but change the game
Prof. Dr. René Peinl
Head of research group systems integration
Teaching area: Web architecture