text: Chapter 4
  4-89. The BCT commander strives to create shared understanding of the operational environment, the
  operation’s purpose, the problem, and approaches to solving the problem form the basis for unity of effort
  and trust. Decentralized actions can perform in the context of shared understanding as if they were centrally
  coordinated. Knowledge management helps create shared understanding through the alignment of people,
  processes, and tools within the BCT’s organizational structure and culture to increase collaboration and
  interaction. This results in better decisions and enables improved flexibility, adaptability, integration, and
  synchronization to achieve a position of relative advantage. Knowledge management facilitates situational
  understanding and acts as a catalyst for enhanced shared understanding.
  4-90. Knowledge management and information management assist the commander with progressively
  adding meaning at each level of processing and analyzing to help build and maintain situational
  understanding. Knowledge management and information management are interrelated activities that support
  the commander’s decision-making. Four levels of meaning,from the lowest level to the highest level,include
  data, information, knowledge, and understanding. At the lowest level, processing transforms data into
  information. Analysis then refines information into knowledge. The BCT commander and staff then apply
  judgment to transform knowledge into understanding. Commanders and staffs continue a progressive
  development of learning, as organizations and individuals assign meaning and value at each level. (See
  figure4-5.)
  Figure 4-5. Achieving understanding
  4-91. In typical organizations, data often flows to CPs from subordinate units. In the context of
  decision-making, data consists of unprocessed observations detected by a collector of any kind (human,
  mechanical,or electronic) (ADP 6-0). Subordinate units push data to inform higher headquarters of events
  that facilitate situational understanding. Data can be quantified,stored,and organized in files and databases;
  however,data only becomes useful when processedinto information.
  4-92. Information management is the science of using procedures and information systems to collect,
  process, store, display, disseminate, and protect data, information, and knowledge products (ADP 6-0). In
  the context of decision-making,informationis data that has been organized and processed in order to provide
  context for further analysis (ADP 6-0). Information management supports,underpins,and enables knowledge
  management. Information management and knowledge management link to facilitate understanding and
  decision-making. Information management is a technical discipline that involves the planning, storage,
  manipulating,and controlling of information throughout its life cycle in support of the commander and staff.
  Information management provides a structure so commanders and staffs can process and communicate
  relevant information and make decisions. The signal staff officer (see paragraph 4-199) of the BCT enables
  knowledge management by providing network architecture and the technological tools necessary to support
  content management and knowledge sharing.
  4-93. Knowledge managementis the process of enabling knowledge flow to enhance shared understanding,
  learning,and decision-making (ADP 6-0). In the context of decision-making,knowledgeisinformation that
  has been analyzed and evaluated for operational implications (ADP 6-0). Knowledge flow refers to the ease
  of movement of knowledge within and among organizations. Knowledge must flow to be useful. Effective
  and efficient use of knowledge in conducting operations and supporting organizational learning are essential
  functions of knowledge management. The BCT executive officer (XO)is the senior knowledge management
  officer in the BCT and advises the commander on knowledge management policy. The XO is responsible for
  directing the activities of each staff section and subordinate unit to capture and disseminate organizational
  knowledge. When staffed, a knowledge management officer (see paragraph 4-217 and FM 6-0), working
  through the XO, is responsible for developing the knowledge management plan that integrates and
  synchronizes knowledge and information management within the BCT.