text:
Systems and methods for development of an interactive document cluster network for knowledge
The present invention relates to knowledge management systems and methods and more particularly to an Interactive Document Cluster Network (InDoCNet) and methods of capture, storage and retrieval of knowledge wherein the unit of interaction with knowledge is a "cluster of knowledge". This "cluster of knowledge" includes, not only the document, but also all the associated ides, responses, evaluations, or inter-relationships which have been generated".
The system comprises of an interactive document cluster, a communication and sharing protocol, a plurality of content hubs and a set of user interfaces called knowledge encounter maps.
Venkatram, Srinivas (Mumbai, IN)
VENKATRAM SRINIVAS
Other Classes:
706/45, 707/E17.116
G06F17/30; (IPC1-7): G06F17/00
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STARKS, WILBERT L
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW GROUP LLP (SAN JOSE, CA, US)
1. A method of managing knowledge within an organization, said method comprising: connecting a computer to a service provider; running a browser on said computer; receiving for core knowledge a request from a user; prompting the user to respond to options and refine the knowledge request while storing the user's answers as knowledge fragments linked to the knowledge request; and while said browser is running and iteratively performing the following steps a-d: a) assessing a knowledge base and retrieving the information control of said knowledge base in said computer; b) identifying on said knowledge base one or more knowledge fragments linked to the core knowledge unit; c) assessing said knowledge fragments and storing the information content of said different fragments in said computer; and d) displaying said stored core knowledge and knowledge fragments on the computer.
2. The method of managing knowledge within an organization, including said service provider organizing and following competitors by using data storage unit.
3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the assessing and storing of information in step (c) is a continuous process, thereby resulting in a Learning History Cluster capturing the organization's experiences.
4. The method according to claim 3 including extracting tacit assumptions underlying work practices of individuals within the organization, and forming a cluster called Insight Cluster Networks for information about the organization.
5. The method according to claim 3, including recording knowledge fragments concerning data for day-to-day concern of the organization and forming an Activity Network Cluster.
6. A computer-implemented apparatus for classifying knowledge into an Interactive Document Cluster Network (InDocNet), said apparatus comprising: a framework of a set of key axes of concern and points of concern; said axis of concern providing links for tagging a document; a set of entry interfaces; a set of data storage units, and a set of knowledge display interfaces.
[0001] This Application is a Continuation-In-Part of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 60/242,390, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
[0002] The present invention relates to knowledge management systems and methods and more particularly to an Interactive Document Cluster Network (InDoCNet) and methods of capture, storage and retrieval of knowledge wherein the unit of interaction with knowledge is a "cluster of knowledge". This "cluster of knowledge" includes, not only the document, but also all the associated ideas, responses, evaluations, or inter-relationships which have been generated, discovered or created as a result of one or more interactions between a group of users or knowledge seekers and that document or piece of knowledge. Thus, the core document provides access to the core document plus the fragments of knowledge or to core document plus fuzzy knowledge. The invention also relates to the sharing of such fragments or fuzzy knowledge across a network of users such that the same fragment is multiply used in multiple document cluster contexts.
2. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The Internet has opened up the opportunity for on-line and low cost worldwide distribution of knowledge and learning materials to users. Almost every single knowledge management initiative, whether in corporate, commercial, educational or personal context attempts at least in part to bring the knowledge base close to the actual tasks being carried out by the user. In other words, the goal is to seek "just-in-time knowledge". A major challenge lies in making use of Internet technology to deliver highly customized knowledge to each individual user. For example, in the case of customized training, each user should be able to read, interact with and/or download materials, which address the user's needs as a function of the user's current level of learning. Existing systems for collecting and managing information have been inadequate to meet such needs because they do not provide for effective assessing, evaluating and updating of information or knowledge within an organization or system. In other words, existing systems do not adequately address the accrual of knowledge resulting from activity concerning the user's needs as determined from a variety of perspectives, which is an important aspect of succeeding in the electronic global environment. As current information sources become larger and more complex to serve a variety of knowledge workers with particular information needs, providing knowledge workers within an organization with customized packaged knowledge becomes increasingly important to the success of any organization.
[0004] One of the critical issues being addressed by managers in large corporations and elsewhere is the issue of capturing, storing and retrieving tacit knowledge. Tacit knowledge includes the experiences, ideas, reactions and suggestions that people have assimilated in their minds or heads and which could be transferred or made available to others in their group, their peers and subordinates within the organization.
[0005] According to the present invention, the problems and disadvantages with existing knowledge management systems and methods have been substantially eliminated.
3. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] According to a broad aspect of the present invention systems and methods are provided whereby knowledge is captured, stored and retrieved on another dimension or set of knowledge paths defined herein as dimensions of concern. It is empirically found that tacit knowledge is built around specific themes which are perceived by knowledge creators or seekers as of direct value to them.
[0007] The present invention provides a classification architecture which is able to allow the creators of knowledge to add to the data on dimensions relevant to them and the users of knowledge to retrieve the data on other dimensions more relevant to them. This classification is built on identifying the critical or universal axes of concern which drive the creation and storage of data related to an organization.
[0008] The present invention relates to knowledge management systems and methods and more particularly to an Interactive Document Cluster Network (InDoCNet) and methods of capture, storage and retrieval of knowledge wherein the unit of interaction with knowledge is a "cluster of knowledge". This "cluster of knowledge" includes, not only the document, but also all the associated ideas, responses, evaluations, or inter-relationships which have been generated, discovered or created as a result of one or more interactions between a group of users or knowledge seekers and that document or piece of knowledge.
[0009] The InDoCNet technology of the present invention is built on four novel concepts:
[0010] (a) An interactive document cluster which is a document display software which contains access to and can display a number of documents and also display a number of knowledge or document fragments which are "attached to it" through various formats. This device called an InDoC Tool (Interactive Document Software Tool) allows users to (i) navigate and choose among documents on the basis of an explicit logic or structure; (ii) add, annotate, or edit documents through the addition subtraction or modification of various "knowledge fragments" (which are new documents 'added on' to the existing documents.); (iii) store, display, retrieve, or address these knowledge fragments for the purpose of usage by subsequent users of the same tool, or for the purpose of sharing and distributing this knowledge fragment through the connected InDoC Communication System.
[0011] Each InDoC Tool could carry (i) one or more highly purposive visual metaphors and/or learning structures for the purpose of navigation; (ii) document display and delivery tools; (iii) experience sharing interfaces, which are specially designed for the purpose of provoking tacit knowledge creation and sharing and (iv) an implicit document storage and distribution system that allows fragments to be added and automatically tagged for distribution or local storage.
[0012] Knowledge fragments are captured and delivered through the experience of sharing interfaces at the structural level. At this level they are stored on the basis of dimensions of concerns.
[0013] Knowledge fragments are captured, stored and delivered around the interactive document clusters at the level of the individual document or content within the structure.
[0014] (b) A new communication and sharing protocol that allows (i) each knowledge fragment to be appropriately addressed and tagged automatically on the basis of the "point of origin" within the network; (ii) the knowledge fragments to be "dimensionalized" on the basis of knowledge needs or 'dimensions of concern'; and (iii) shared and distributed among all users of a certain class on the basis of these dimensions.
[0015] (c) An InDoC Communication System, which comprises of a number of Content Hubs. Each hub has a number of InDoC tools connected to it and is responsible for organizing and storing the sharable and other fragments created in these tools. Each hub allows for the knowledge fragments created to be distributed to all other hubs and conversely receives and stores relevant fragments from any other hub in the system on the basis of the communication protocol, (much like the Internet which has numerous servers which talk to each other on the basis of an Internet Protocol). Thus, any number of hubs may be added or subtracted to the system. As long as the protocol is maintained, each hub will pass on and receive fragments from the next hub, and make selections on the basis of relevance defined by the communication protocol. As this goes on, from each hub to related hubs, every knowledge fragment gets distributed and selected by all relevant hubs and made available to the associated "spoke InDoC Tools".
[0016] (d) A set of user interfaces called Knowledge Encounter Maps. Each knowledge encounter map is usually built around a specific action situation such as writing a report, or performing an appraisal, etc. The map represents an "outcome space" which is a set of inter-related intermediate outcomes, which may or may not flow logically from each other, but could flow out of the variations in real-life situations, which a user may face. (For example, a series of what ifs describe multiple scenarios of events; in practice however, each time the user is completing the task, he will encounter only a fraction of the total universe of what ifs in that instance.) Thus each event, when encountered (and only when encountered), triggers off a knowledge need or a knowledge-sharing situation.
[0017] This will result in the user selecting an appropriate InDoC Tool corresponding to the situation picked. The InDoC Tools could be connected to different content hubs and can contain different dimensions of concern.
[0018] The InDoC system of the present invention describes the model for the capture, storage and retrieval of tacit knowledge. The system comprises knowledge fragments which are linked to structure and knowledge fragments which are linked to the content with the structure.
4. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0019] For a complete understanding of the present invention and for further features and advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
[0020] FIG. 1a illustrates structure of an InDoC Tool and FIG. 1b illustrates a display interface of the InDoC Tool.
[0021] FIG. 2 represents the components of the InDoCNet, which is a layered knowledge-sharing network. The InDoCNet comprises of numerous InDoC Tools, which are interactive document clusters connected through a software program that organizes them; each of these InDoC Tools is connected to a Content Hub, such that any content hub can have multiple InDoC Tools; and the content hubs themselves are connected to each other in a communication system that uses a specific choice and relevance protocol, based on dimensions of concern; the tools are accessible to users via a Knowledge Encounter Map, or through any other kind of user interface.
[0022] FIG. 3 represents the flow of operations in the InDoCNet. Wherein the figure describes how a tacit knowledge fragment, which is entered by a user is tagged according the relevant dimensions of concern, and shared via the content hubs across the network, such that the same fragment is displayed on other InDoC Tools as per the sharing protocol. Hence the content hubs enable the meaningful recontextualization of tacit knowledge fragments from one point of use to another.
[0023] FIG. 4 illustrates the display interfaces for experience sharing.
[0024] FIG. 5 illustrates the operations of the InDoCNet and sharing taking place on the "dimensions of concern".
[0025] FIG. 6 illustrates the two basic types of knowledge fragment sharing;
[0026] FIG. 6a describes knowledge sharing at the structure level and FIG. 6b at the content level.
[0027] FIG. 7 illustrates the multiple layers of knowledge sharing, which is based on the outcome levels or perspectives, within which sharing takes place. This represents the typical sharing mechanism for large organizations, which is architected on the basis of the knowledge organization, described in DISHA, in a co-pending application entitled "Systems and Methods for Directed Knowledge Management Using the DISHA Platform", submitted concurrently by the applicant. This represents the communication protocol.
[0028] FIG. 8 represents the basis for the knowledge sharing protocol and illustrates the same. The "Dimensions of concern" are derived from a role and are defined for an Outcome Level. These dimensions of concern, are organized into orthogonal "idea sets". In this case, the orthogonal dimensions for the role "sales" are configuration, competitor and client concern. Each dimension forming an idea set comprising of variable "points of concern", example—client concern, may have reliability, maintenance costs etc. as points of concern.
[0029] FIG. 9 represents the methodology involved in developing the appropriate knowledge sharing and communication protocol for InDoCNet
[0030] FIG. 10 represents some of the possible functions of a Content Hub, within the InDoCNet.
[0031] FIG. 11 illustrates specialized embodiments of the InDoCNet; 11a illustrates a "Case Cluster Network", 11b illustrates a "Learning History Cluster Network", 11c, illustrates an "Insight Question Cluster Network", 11d, illustrates a "Thought Strings Cluster Network" and 11e, a "Troubleshooting Cluster Network".
[0032] FIG. 12 illustrates an intelligent content agent with a tool description "what if"
[0033] FIG. 13 illustrates an example of a software metaphor tool—a radar metaphor tool in the case of a "competitor radar tool" to benchmark against competition
[0034] FIG. 14a represents the knowhow distribution in a community of practice. Each structure set representing a knowledge transfer protocol.
[0035] FIG. 14b represents the intelligent content hubs based on the layered knowledge sharing protocol.
5. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0036] Organizations have found the task of capturing, storing and retrieving such knowledge difficult to implement in practice. The primary factor has been the reluctance of the individuals involved to contribute to the system. It is found that even sophisticated knowledge management systems which have complex methods of analysis and retrieval are unable to incentives or encourage people to add to the system.
[0037] A further, equally important problem is the issue of structuring and retrieving such data, which in the final analysis may appear in numerous forms ranging from a single line to a full blown report describing an event or some learnings associated with a project, or an event.
[0038] The problems above have become particularly acute in recent years wherein organizations are being forced to continuously track and respond meaningfully to the 'soft inputs' that come in from the environment and from people within the organization. Soft inputs could include a customer reaction about the company's product or even a comment about a competitor's product made in the course of sales conversation.
[0039] Another manifestation of the problem lies in enabling managers to get a more multi-dimensional view of a problem by way of differing perspectives; without having to resort to time consuming and difficult to set up brainstorming sessions.
[0040] Another manifestation from an information delivery point of view is the problem of 'issue centricity'. To elaborate, one may often have a particular perspective or issue to be dealt with in one's mind while going through a set of documents. On another occasion, one may rerun through the whole document set, this time from a different perspective altogether. These differences in perspective will not only influence the emphasis paid to various issues, but will also modify to a great extent the choice of support and additional documentation around the 'core document set'.
[0041] Each of the examples above reflect a different manifestation of the tacit knowledge problem—capturing a reaction, incorporating unplanned for experiences and environmental inputs into the organizational memory and creating alternative structures of access to a document set based on the perspective or central issue defining the knowledge access situation. The present invention provides systems and methods which achieve each of the objectives.
[0042] The problem, defined in context of the capture, storage and retrieval of tacit knowledge, can be extended to include almost any knowledge interaction situation wherein the unit of interaction with knowledge is no longer an individual document or report, but instead is a 'cluster of knowledge' which includes not only the document, but also all the associated ideas, responses, evaluations, inter-relationships, which have been created or discovered as a result of the interaction between a group of human beings and that piece of knowledge.
[0043] The Structure of InDoC Tools (See FIG. 1)
[0044] The central paradigm used in the structure of an InDoC Tool is the notion of knowledge pathway. A knowledge pathway represents a mode of access to a cluster or set of knowledge documents. The mode of access is defined on three fundamental dimensions: (a) the assimilation query (b) the choice of learning path (c) the type of document. To elaborate the present invention more specifically and particularly:
[0045] 1. Any access to knowledge in a work situation is usually defined by the seeker in terms of a question or query which may be formulated either in explicit terms or intuitively by the seeker. The query can include questions such as 'what if', 'how to', 'if . . . then', etc. (These types of queries are commonly dealt with in a popular type of information presentation called 'faqs'-frequently asked questions). The appropriate formulation of such a query is intended by the seeker of knowledge to adjust or fine tune his or her approach to the knowledge base and is defined here as the 'assimilation query'.
[0046] 2. The choice of learning path represents the type of learning or assimilation style in which the seeker of knowledge chooses or prefers in that specific situation. For example, one user may prefer to build a theoritical base in order to deal with a situation, while another may prefer to carry out a specific task and generate a set of learnings out of that process, while yet another may prefer to understand how the particular piece of knowledge has been used in different situations and thereby draw a comparision to his own situation. Seekers of knowledge usually make these choices intuitively, but are usually fairly clear about their preferences even if unarticulated. Further, the same seeker may select or use a multiplicity of such assimilation styles in order to gain command over a subject or 'get' an idea. These assimilation styles are defined here as 'learning paths'.
[0047] 3. The third dimension is the choice of document type which is the 'fuzziest' set of choices in that users are quite willing to move from one document type (say formal report) to another (say comment made on the subject) to another (say audio clip) or yet another (say video clip).
[0048] The central problem here is the structuring and inter-relationship between these individual documents so that the user is able to seamlessly move from one document type to another, within the context of his/her assimilation query and the choice of learning path.
[0049] This is achieved in the following manner: One, the assimilation query which is the first stage of the knowledge seeking process and which is triggered off by context, is presented to the user along with other assimilation queries in the knowledge encounter map.
[0050] Each knowledge encounter map is usually built around a specific action situation such as writing a report, or performing an appraisal, etc. The map represents an "outcome space" which is a set of inter-related intermediate outcomes, which may or may not flow logically from each other, but could flow out of the variations in real-life situations, which a user may face. (For example, a series of what ifs describe multiple scenarios of events; in practice however, each time the user is completing the task, he will encounter only a fraction of the total universe of what ifs in that instance.) Thus each event, when encountered (and only when encountered), triggers off a knowledge need or a knowledge-sharing situation. Thus, the assimilation queries are displayed in the knowledge encounter maps.
[0051] Selecting the appropriate assimilation query will result in the selection and display of the appropriate InDoC Tool.
[0052] The InDoC Tool contains (i) one or more highly purposive visual metaphors and/or learning structures for the purpose of navigation of knowledge. For example, a commitment map, which describes the commitments and input-output relationships between members of a team, enables a user to make a visually aided selection of appropriate document. (To be more precise, the structure and organization of the documents are embedded and displayed by the visual structure). Another example could be the use of a learning structure (described in Visual OOKS patent 117.009). (ii) To further select the appropriate document, the user is provided with choices of learning paths at each level or node within the visual or learning structure. (iii) On selection of the learning path, the user is given the option to either select from a listing of documents (document path). The tool may contain hyperlinks or copies of documents, or a retrieval mechanism to call document options and display them to the user.
[0053] The key feature of the InDoC Tool is that it provides a highly localized task or situation level context for knowledge sharing and capture of tacit knowledge. Further, it provides the delivery framework for displaying explicit documents and the tacit knowledge generated around these documents. By providing a structure for navigation and selection of documents, the InDoC Tool allows the directed use of specific documents and presents clearly defined opportunities for knowledge to be captured and stored within the system.
[0054] The Notion of 'Interactive Document Cluster' Networks
[0055] The present invention provides a method whereby tacit knowledge is captured, stored and retrieved on another dimension or set of knowledge paths defined by us as dimensions of concern. It is empirically found that tacit knowledge is best extracted and best used when the knowledge is built around specific themes which are perceived by knowledge creators or seekers as of direct value to them.
[0056] The creators of tacit knowledge often do so because they are motivated by concerns most relevant to there own lives or activities. Users of the data generated by these creators often retrieve and utilize the knowledge in terms of issues or concerns close to them which may often be radically different in apparent form then those related to the creators of the knowledge. Therefore the central challenge facing any knowledge management effort which aims at collecting, storing and retrieving tacit knowledge lies in creating a simple but powerful mechanism that allows users and creators of knowledge to interact with knowledge on the themes or knowledge pathways that are most relevant to them while ensuring that no knowledge or valuable insight is lost in such a process.
[0057] What is proposed is a classification architecture which is able to allow the creators of knowledge to add to the data any dimensions relevant to them and the users of knowledge to retrieve the data on other dimensions more relevant to them. This classification architecture is built on identifying the critical/universal axes of concern which drive the creation and storage of data related to an organization.
[0058] This classification architecture of the present invention allows numerous fragments of knowledge collected almost as 'asides' within a particular work process, for example, a sales process, to be quickly and meaningfully classified in a manner that allows retrieval of the same fragment by numerous other users of that knowledge within that organization, each on a different dimension.
[0059] This classification architecture of the present invention underlies a set of entry interfaces and display interfaces which together enables an organization to collect store and retrieve tacit knowledge more efficiently and effectively through the organization. This set is called an interactive document cluster network (InDoCNet) with any single document display (comprising of one set of documents selected on any one axis of concern) being called an interactive document cluster (InDoC), which may be displayed to the user in the form of an InDoC Tool or as an independent document cluster in the case of any other knowledge presentation system. (See FIGS. 2 and 3)
[0060] Description of Various Embodiments of InDoCNetworks (InDoCNet)
[0061] The invention relates to numerous different interactive document cluster networks. Each network will have four components—with varying degree of emphasis across networks on each component. The components are (a) the dimension or axes of concern (b) the locus of concern (c) the knowledge fragment and (d) knowledge strings and string elements.
[0062] Each cluster network will relate to a specific area of organization or community activity. Some of cluster networks referred to in this document include Sales InDoCNet, Learning History Cluster Networks, Case Cluster Networks, Insight Cluster Networks and Activity Network Clusters (See FIGS. 11a to 11e).
[0063] The dimensions or axes of concern will vary across networks. The InDoCNet related to the sales process, for example, is built on the dimensions of customer configuration and competition. The Learning History Cluster Network is built on the dimension of organizational activity. The Insight Cluster Networks is built on the dimension of organizational assumptions. The Case Cluster Networks is built on the dimension of issues of critical concern to the organization.
[0064] The locus of concern is a mechanism which is used to provoke structures or enable users to respond and use the network more meaningfully and effectively. For example, the Case Cluster Network uses a set of pre-defined case study as the locus of collecting tacit knowledge. The insight cluster network uses an 'insight question'—a specially designed type of question meant to unearth and re-assess assumptions underlying people's work or the activities and goals of the communities.
[0065] The unit of knowledge, which is captured, stored and retrieved from the system is called the knowledge fragment. A knowledge fragment may or may not have any pre-defined structure and may be in any form amenable to storage and retrieval in a system.
[0066] The knowledge string and string elements refer to responses and reactions to the knowledge fragments. The strings may comprise of any number of string elements, all of which must be linked to the knowledge fragment and addressed only in relation to the knowledge fragment. Every time a knowledge fragment is called for, the associated string will also be available to users for review, with if necessary appropriate filters.
[0067] The Structure of an InDoCNet
[0068] InDoCNet is the framework for the physical distribution and reframing of context for knowledge fragments. The InDoCNet connects to the user via InDoC Tools but is not limited by the InDoC Tools and can be accessed by users at a variety of levels through a variety of navigational or knowledge access interfaces depending upon the design of the knowledge delivery system. (See FIG. 2 and 3)
[0069] The starting point for the InDoCNet may be seen as the experiencing sharing interface. The experience sharing interface performs the function of facilitating or triggering the creation and storage of tacit knowledge. It is found in practice, that although excellent mechanisms may exist for the capture or storage of tacit knowledge, users do not usually take the trouble of formulating their tacit knowledge into a clearly articulated knowledge fragment. It is found in practice, that users do formulate knowledge fragments when they are sufficiently motivated by a context or situation to present their viewpoint or "hidden knowledge" of the situation. For example, the presence of a well-defined question along with alternative viewpoints from various users of the system, can often encourage users to add their own perspective to the same question, in agreement or contrast to others viewpoints. Similarly, it is found that the use of specific phrases such as "reality check" or "what's your concern?" again results in higher incidence of tacit knowledge formulation and retrieval.
[0070] Thus, experience sharing interfaces are specially designed for the purpose of provoking tacit knowledge creation and sharing and may be of different types.
[0071] These interfaces may be located at various points of the knowledge delivery system. Equally important, the choice of interface results in the appropriate protocol level being invoked and the sharing paradigm being defined for that document.
[0072] In all these cases, the interface opens up into a knowledge entry, storage and editing interface, and an implicit or explicit mechanism for defining the dimension of concern on which the knowledge is to be shared. For example, if the sharing is highly local, as in the case of a commitment map, the dimension of concern is not articulated, but is implicitly defined as "better communication and adherence of the commitment protocol among group members." On the other hand, if the ESI is at the level of a process, (for example sales process), then a clearly defined set of dimensions are articulated to the user for selection (in case of sales process, the dimensions may be configuration, customer, and competition). (See FIGS. 4 and 5)
[0073] It is found that there are multiple layers and levels on which knowledge is shared among different groups. The basic approach to selection of the appropriate layer and the dimensions of sharing, can be defined at two levels—one, at the structural level, and two, at the content level.
[0074] When documents are captured at the content level, it means that those fragments are called upon as and when that specific document or families of that document are called upon by the user. Content level knowledge sharing is usually context and user-need independent. An example would be a case study, were the capture and storage of documents are organized around the specific dimensions on which the case is to be evaluated such as problems, alternatives, etc.
[0075] At the structural level, document sharing is dependent upon the specific context or role being enacted by the user. If the user is performing a task for the purpose of managing a process better, then the concerns are connected to meeting the process deliverables such as timeliness, quality etc. On the other hand, if the user is performing a task for the purpose of say selling, then the concerns are related to customer etc. In these two cases the community of sharing is also different. In the former the knowledge fragment needs to be shared among all the process owners, while in the latter, it may be shared among all those associated with selling. (See FIG. 6)
[0076] Even more important, since the same dimensions may be relevant to other groups of users, beyond those which can be clearly and immediately defined (such as customer issues related to product configuration which are useful not only to sales, but also to the product development team for that product), InDoCNet uses the mechanism of content hubs which store all the knowledge fragments created say around various dimensions of concern, and also go beyond by passing on these documents or information about them, to other content hubs which are organized around different processes or any other definition of role.
[0077] Thus, content hubs act as a knowledge router system similar to the structure of the Internet, in that the user may put in a knowledge fragment through an ESI, while executing a highly specific task in a large organization. The knowledge fragment so created, will be delivered into the relevant content hub to which the ESI is connected. Following this, the InDoC communication network takes over. The content hub passes on a copy of the knowledge fragment or information about it to all the content hubs to which it is connected. Each receiving content hub checks for appropriateness of role layer and the dimension of concern, and either stores the fragment and also passes it on to hubs connected to it, or simply passes on the information to the next hub. In this way a knowledge fragment travels across even an extremely large communication network and is captured and stored by all content hubs who find role and dimension of concern validity. (There may be other protocol elements added for the purpose of efficient transfer of fragments and optimal use of the network) (See FIG. 7)
[0078] Hence the content hubs enable the meaningful recontextualization of tacit knowledge fragments from one point of use to another.
[0079] A Content Hub comprises of artificial intelligence rule bases and "knowledge architecture" structures, (such as those covered in the DISHA patent) along with delivery capabilities in terms of content reorganization and information object indexing. It also carries the knowledge fragment databases and tag data. It will also carry the knowledge fragment communication management protocols, retrieval paradigms such as archival searches and new dimension searches, intelligent query and response tools such as intelligent network searches, network groups etc. (See FIG. 10)
[0080] Procedure Defining The Knowledge Sharing Protocol in InDoCNet Architecture
[0081] The InDoCNet is a layered knowledge-sharing network. This is a framework for knowledge sharing across the organization, which maps onto the organizational architecture (described as a specific embodiment of DISHA covered in the patent application no. 117.008).
[0082] The knowledge sharing is carried out in the following manner, and is one of the bases for the protocol design:
[0083] a) A user enters a new tacit knowledge fragment, which is (auto or user) tagged on the relevant dimensions of concern.
[0084] b) This knowledge fragment along with the "tag" data gets stored on a content hub relevant to that role.
[0085] c) Based on the knowledge-sharing communication protocol, the content hub "talks" to linked content hubs and "relevantly passes" on the call-address of the knowledge fragment. These content hubs in turn "talk" to their linked content hubs and "relevantly pass" on the call-address of the knowledge fragment. In this way, the tacit knowledge fragments can be "relevantly passed" between content hubs based on the knowledge-sharing communication protocol, and the knowledge fragment can be retrieved from a different InDoC tool around a different outcome (within the same Outcome Level).
[0086] d) Hence the content hubs enable the meaningful recontextualization of tacit knowledge fragments from one point of use to another.
[0087] The "Dimensions of concern" form the basis of the knowledge-sharing communication protocol. The "Dimensions of concern" are derived from a role and are defined for an Outcome Level. These dimensions of concern, are organized into orthogonal "idea sets". In this case, the orthogonal dimensions for the role "sales" are configuration, competitor and client concern. Each dimension forming an idea set comprising of variable "points of concern" example client concern may have reliability, maintenance costs etc. as points of concern. This is illustrated through an embodiment. (See FIG. 7 and 8)
[0088] FIGS. 7 and 8 represent the layered approach to identify the dimensions of concern, which form the basis of the knowledge-sharing communication protocol.
[0089] a) Outcome Levels are identified by a Role Perspective (covered in the DISHA patent). Knowledge sharing takes place only within an Outcome Level.
[0090] b) Each Outcome Level has a set of "View Sets", each having a set of outcomes. Each level also has associated, a universal set or "objective list" comprising of all the orthogonal dimensions of concern relevant to that level.
[0091] c) Each View Set is associated with one or more orthogonal dimensions of concern relevant to it, from the universal "objective list". These dimensions of concern are applicable to all the outcomes within that view set.
[0092] d) Each of these dimensions of concern is an idea set comprising of numerous "points of concern" which may be variable. Sharing of knowledge fragments takes place, based on the knowledge-sharing communication protocol, on common dimensions of concern.
[0093] The layered communication protocol would be built on the above principles, but is not limited to the above, the essential feature being the logical outcome driven layering and sharing on dimensions of concern using a hub and spoke transfer network.
[0094] Sales InDoCNet—An Embodiment of the InDoCNet Technology Includes
[0095] A specific embodiment comprising of one of the most common sources of knowledge for a company is the numerous responses, ideas, suggestions and complaints given by customers in the course of business.
[0096] More specifically, a customer may have a number of opinions related to a product and the service associated with it. A discussion with a company representative centered around the attributes or features of the product may not result in the full extent of the customer's opinion being vocalized or articulated clearly. However, a discussion built around the theme of the customer's own problems could result in a much richer articulation of the ideas within the customer's head. This is a well-known phenomenon and market research questionnaires for example, incorporate this behavioral phenomenon into the very framing of questions.
[0097] The company's product design department on the other hand may be interested in the customers' responses not so much in terms of customer 'feelings' as much as in terms of specific suggestions or ideas to trigger off improvements in product design.
[0098] Yet in another department in the company, the customer service group may be interested in analyzing and extracting ideas from the customer data but from the perspective of improving customer service procedures or offerings.
[0099] The interactive document cluster meant to deal with the tacit knowledge generated and used in such a situation is built on the following framework (See FIGS. 5 and 8):
[0100] (a) the key axes of concern for the sales process are identified
[0101] (b) each axis of concern is further specified in terms of points of concern or specific issues of concern, for example if one of the axis of concern is customer needs, then each aspect of need which is relevant to that particular situation is identified within that axis
[0102] (c) using the axis of concern the method for tagging each document or fragment of tacit knowledge is established. The tag for a specific document will be built up as a combination of all the relevant issues from each of the 'n' number of concern paths. <issue choices from: concern path 1, concern path 2, . . . concern path n>
[0103] (d) a number of entry interfaces may be designed such that each entry interface will be presented to the user at the appropriate time when that person is discussing a specific concern path. At that stage the knowledge is captured and stored in that entry interface with the person who is capturing the knowledge is being the option of filling in any of the other dimension of concern on the basis of the content of the tacit knowledge being produced. Thus, the provocation for entry may come from a specific dimension, but the additional tagging of that fragment of knowledge is carried out on the basis of the content of the tacit knowledge.
[0104] (e) a number of knowledge display interfaces may be designed such that each seeker of knowledge may approach the body of knowledge from axis of concern or from a specific issue within that axis of concern. The user is now given the choice of retrieving all the tacit knowledge relevant to that concern.
[0105] (f) It is possible that knowledge derived from the sales process may be used in another organizational process, such as product design. It is also possible that the product design process may have its own axis of concern. However, it will be quite possible for seekers of knowledge within the product design process to retrieve knowledge captured in the selling process as long as there are one or more common dimensions of concern between the two different groups of seekers.
[0106] To achieve this, each role group within the organization connected with the selling process would be part of the customer knowledge sharing network through the mechanism of numerous role-specific content hubs; each content hub relating to a role, and carrying with it the dimensions of concern and role-based protocol for distributing and accepting new knowledge fragments.
[0107] Thus, developing individual concern architectures for different departments or user groups within the organization with common dimensions of concern tying them up in multiple ways can result in a organization-wide tacit knowledge storage and retrieval architecture (this will allow seamless use and flow of soft knowledge from different parts of the organization to those users within the same organizational system who require them).
[0108] The organization-wide protocol structure has been described in figure (See FIG. 7), it will be seen that the basic layers on which common sharing takes place are based on the core perspectives for the organization (defined in DISHA patent 117.008) as deliverables, know-how and actionables. Further, each content hub would be related to an element within the outcome set defined within the perspective level. For example, there would be a content hub relevant to a specific process which is one of the many processes within the know-how layer. The dimensions of concern would be established for the role: managing the specific process. The dimensions of concern so established may have commonalities and differences with other process managers, either on the basis of some meta-rules established for that purpose, or on and individualized basis. There will be multiple content hubs for different roles, such as managing different processes or contributing in different ways for execution of these processes, each with a different set of dimension of concern. Based on this, the content hub network will distribute the knowledge fragments across the system.
[0109] Software Based Framework for Knowledge Extraction and Transfer of KnowHow in a Community of Practice (An Embodiment of InDoCNet)
[0110] One of the central issues facing most organizations and communities of practice, is the problem of effective capture of the tacit knowhow that resides with the older or more experienced members of that community. The formal capture of this knowhow, is necessary from multiple points of view (1) The community as a whole is interested in continuously advancing the state of the art, and can do it only by capturing and formalizing the experiences and insights of its members. (2) Older or more experienced members of the community are in a position to leverage their considerable knowledge if some reasonable means of capturing and commercially distributing that knowledge is available. (3) Younger and advancing members of the community gain by shortening considerably the gaps in knowledge caused by limited experience.
[0111] The present embodiment is both a framework for such extraction and distribution of tacit knowledge or knowhow (KnowHow Sharing Protocol), and also a toolkit for improving the effectiveness of any effort associated with building a knowhow reservoir (KnowHow Toolkit).
[0112] These are described below:
[0113] (A) The KnowHow Toolkit acts as the repository for the knowledge structures of the communities of practice. These structures may be embodied in the form of content development formats, content agents, concept organization algorithms, etc.
[0114] Key innovation is the development of a unique set of software based content extraction and presentation tools (based on Interactive Document Cluster), which organize information objects into meaningful patterns and equally important, enable "experts" with a fund of tacit knowledge to communicate or transfer their expertise or identify best practices easily through the same set of tools. The tools are described below:
[0115] 1. Intelligent Content Agents, which perform the function of packaging information components into meaningful query and problem response structures for specific purpose. These agents are organized into multiple classes depending upon the (i) problem categories addressed, (ii) the heuristic frameworks used, and (iii) the information organizing principles.
[0116] A simple Intelligent Content Agent is described below. This agent called 'Inquitree what if' is triggered by a specific "what if . . . " Query and comprises of a solution framework art of an "appropriate content packs". Agents carry with them development interfaces and tagging interfaces that allow them to be called in multiple applications and customized for specific purposes. A class of agent may result in hundreds of task-specific agents (See FIG. 12)
[0117] 2. Intelligent Query Tools, which are formal software tools to aid in the knowledge extraction process by offering a sequence of queries to users on the basis of a prior reasoning architecture. Since the solution architecture for a class of problems is usually common (for example, developing a project plan), the Intelligent Query Tool is able to "anticipate" the issues likely to be faced in developing such a plan on the basis of past expert interactions with the same problem. This results in a query organization architecture that sequentially opens up questions on the basis of past choices and offers templates and content structures for storing the answers to the next question. This enables a high quality formal "think through process" of any common solution pathway and the capture of the unique or specific organizational practices in relation to the execution or response to that solution.
[0118] 3. Map Metaphor Libraries, which provide ready-to-use frameworks to enable experts from a community of practice to articulate their knowledge meaningfully (for example, a competitor radar is derived from a radar metaphor tool, which provides the general framework that enables any expert to extract and store knowledge about a group of participants in terms of their relative performance on key identifiable dimensions.) Thus, a radar metaphor tool may be used not only to build competitor radar maps, but also benchmarking tools for any group of companies or divisions within companies for key set of parameters. Or in another set of variations, provides the basis for building a set of performance appraisal tools for a group of employees or groups of employees within a company on key operating dimensions.
[0119] As can be seen, a single Software Metaphor Tool enables the creation of numerous context specific maps, each of which can powerfully represent a set of tacit and explicit knowledge in a meaningful organization. These are called Software Metaphor Tools. (See FIG. 13)
[0120] Another embodiment of SMT's would include an Interaction Specification Metaphor Tool, which takes on specific map embodiments such as a task commitment map. The same tool would be used to build performance specification maps for say, a logistics transfer hub, like a warehouse.
[0121] (B) The KnowHow Sharing Protocol for a community of practice is multilayered, with sharing mainly among and within a single layer. The protocol is built on three types of elements (a) the organization architecture (b) the knowledge use architecture, and (c) the information interaction framework. (See FIG. 14a) Each element described in the framework is a protocol layer defining knowledge communications and sharing rules.
[0122] Intelligent Content Hubs (See FIG. 14b) are organized in a unique manner in that they can act as a central group of hubs that provide support to multiple communities of practice or alternatively enable a single community of practice to quickly and effectively organize the content created by that community to be stored, classified, and tagged automatically for use across the organization. The additional key function of a Content Hub is to help find additional users for a piece of information created by one group of users across the organization.
[0123] The operation of the content hubs have been described earlier.
[0124] Each Content Hub comprises of artificial intelligence rule bases and "knowledge architecture" structures, (such as those covered in Disha and InDoC) along with delivery capabilities in terms of content reorganization and information object indexing.
[0125] These artificial intelligence rule bases, are organized around specific "dimensions of use" (such as processes, activities groups, etc.) or "dimensions of practice" (such as common tasks) and "dimensions of concern". Content Hubs perform the specific function of allowing data fragments, information and content formats, and "intelligent content agents" to be built and shared across communities of practice and enable the meaningful recontextualisation of information from one group of users to another.
[0126] The knowledge transfer efforts may be aided by an object indexing rule-base, which sets up priorities and organizing rules for the co-classification of knowledge objects (i.e., if one object within a class is said to have an attribute, then all other information objects are also awarded the same attribute.) This object indexing rule-base may be in the form of a definitional component aiding the object addressing efforts, or may be in the form of additional, active content hubs, which collect, organize, and distribute content for a specific sub community of practice such as process team members in a large organization, on the basis of local protocols.
[0127] A preferred embodiment of a system in accordance with the present invention is preferably practiced in the context of a personal computer such as an IBM compatible personal computer, Apple Macintosh computer or UNIX based workstation. A representative hardware environment is one which includes a typical hardware configuration of a workstation in accordance with a preferred embodiment having a central processing unit, such as a microprocessor, and a number of other units interconnected via a system bus. The workstation includes a Random Access Memory (RAM), Read Only Memory (ROM), an I/O adapter for connecting peripheral devices such as disk storage units to the bus, a user interface adapter for connecting a keyboard, a mouse, a speaker, a microphone, and/or other user interface devices such as a touch screen (not shown) to the bus, communication adapter for connecting the workstation to a communication network (e.g., a data processing network) and a display adapter for connecting the bus to a display device. The workstation typically has resident thereon an operating system such as the Microsoft Windows NT or Windows/95 Operating System (OS), the IBM OS/2 operating system, the MAC OS, or UNIX operating system. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention may also be implemented on platforms and operating systems other than those mentioned.
[0128] The present invention is not to be limited in scope by the embodiment disclosed in the example which is intended as an illustration of one aspect of the invention and any methods and devices which are functionally equivalent are within the scope of the invention. Indeed various modifications of the invention in addition to those shown and described herein will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description.
[0129] Additional embodiments have been described in detail above wherein the figures have been described. (See FIGS. 11a to 11e).
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Make full use of your holidays by giving yourself a head start for next year's Chinese syllabus.
We promise to make lessons extra interesting simply because it's the school holidays!
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Q: X:Name in workflow foundation 4.0 What is the alternative of x:name in workflow foundation 4.0.
I was working on WWF3.5 and I used x:name to identify each activity, now in WWF4.0 it does not exist.

A: In WF4 each activity had an ID when executing but you cannot assign that yourself. If you need something you can assign all you can do is use the DisplayName property.

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text:
THE BRITISH ARMY IN THE SINAI AND PALESTINE CAMPAIGN, 1915-1918
© IWM Q 12614
By downloading or embedding any media, you agree to the terms and conditions of the IWM Non Commercial Licence, including your use of the attribution statement specified by IWM. For this item, that is: © IWM Q 12614
    THE BRITISH ARMY IN THE SINAI AND PALESTINE CAMPAIGN, 1915-1918 © IWM (Q 12614)
[url=https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205067239][img]https://media.iwm.org.uk/ciim5/372/480/mid_000000.jpg?action=e&cat=Photographs[/img][/url] [url=https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205067239]THE BRITISH ARMY IN THE SINAI AND PALESTINE CAMPAIGN, 1915-1918. © IWM (Q 12614)[/url] [url=https://www.iwm.org.uk/corporate/privacy-copyright]IWM Non Commercial License[/url]
The Raid on Amman, March 1918. Camels with cacolets for wounded soldiers and transport camels in Es Salt.
First World War (production), First World War (content)
Westmoreland, George (Photographer)
MINISTRY OF INFORMATION FIRST WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION
Palestine 1917-1918, First World War
Es Salt, Jordan
wounded / disabled
British Army 1914-1918
Voices of the First World War
Hear the men and women whose lives were shaped by the First World War tell their stories of the conflict in our podcast series, Voices of the First World War.
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Broadcast Station Reminder: Quarterly Issues/Program Lists and Children's TV Programming Reports Due July 10, 2012
By David M. Silverman
By July 10, 2012, all radio and television broadcast stations, both commercial and noncommercial, must prepare and place in their public inspection files a list of important issues facing their communities of license, and the programs aired in the months of April, May and June dealing with those issues.
By that same date, all commercial full power television stations and Class A LPTV stations must prepare and file an FCC Form 398 Children's Programming Report for the Second Quarter of 2012. By this date, stations must also prepare and place in their public inspection files documentation sufficient to demonstrate compliance with the limitations on the amount of commercial matter aired during children's programming.
Issues/Program Lists
As noted above, all radio and television stations must prepare these lists and place them in their public files within ten days of the end of each quarter. The Quarterly Issues/Programs list is station specific and, therefore, each station should have its own list, describing programming broadcast on that station that addressed issues of importance to the viewers or listeners of that station. Although the FCC has adopted new rules for television stations that will require these lists to be posted online, those rules are not yet effective (but likely will be effective for the next quarterly report due in October).
The failure to have a complete set of Quarterly Issues/Programs lists timely placed in a station's public file can lead to significant fines at license renewal time. These lists are the only legally mandated documents demonstrating how a station has served the public interest needs of the audience within its service area.
In recent renewal cycles, broadcasters have been fined between $4,000 and $10,000 for not having a complete set of timely Issues/Programs lists in their public file. While the Commission was less severe on stations missing an isolated quarter—or where isolated reports were prepared late—fines were imposed in cases there were multiple missing or late-filed reports.
What should be contained in the Quarterly Issues/Programs lists?
In the FCC's words, the Quarterly Issues/Programs list should reflect the "station's most significant programming treatment of community issues." Thus, a station needs to identify issues of importance to its community of license that it has in its good faith determined to be of significance during that quarter, and the programming it has broadcast that is responsive to those issues. In the past, the FCC had mandated identification of 5 to 10 issues per quarter. While the FCC has since backed away from any specific number of issues, the 5 to 10 range remains a good target.
Although broadcast stations have a great deal of discretion in deciding what programming will address the identified issues, all stations must broadcast some programming that does so. Each program must be identified, including the title of the program, as well as the time and date on which it was broadcast, and its duration. A brief description of the contents of the program, sufficient to demonstrate how the program addressed the identified issue, should also be included.
Special rules for Class A TV stations
In addition to the Quarterly Issues/Programs lists discussed above, the FCC requires that Class A TV stations maintain sufficient information in their public files to demonstrate their continuing eligibility for Class A status, e.g., that they are on air at least 18 hours per day, that they have broadcast at least three hours per week of locally produced programming, and that they have otherwise observed the rules that apply to full power TV stations, including the Children's Programming Reports discussed below. While the FCC does not require that this report on continued eligibility be done quarterly, the preparation of the Quarterly Issues/Programs list and Children's Programming Report would seem to provide a good opportunity to prepare such documentation.
Children's TV Programming Reports
Also within ten days after the end of each calendar quarter, all commercial full power and Class A TV stations must prepare and file an FCC Form 398 Children's Programming Report with the FCC. This report must also be placed in each station's public inspection file. For the Second Quarter of 2012, the Form 398 must be filed electronically with the FCC and placed in the station's public inspection file by July 10, 2012.
Stations are also reminded to periodically publicize the existence and location of these quarterly children's programming reports. While there is no prescribed language or manner for informing the community about these reports, we recommend airing a spot at least once a month announcing that the station prepares and files FCC Form 398 with the FCC on a quarterly basis, which reports on the station's children's programming efforts during the previous calendar quarter. These announcements should also inform viewers that the reports are available for review on the FCC's web site or at the station's main studio. Posting the report or a link to the FCC's web site on the station's own web site is also a good way to publicize the existence and location of the Children's Programming Reports.
Under the Commission's current license renewal guidelines, stations are generally required to air an average of at least three (3.0) hours of core children's programming per week during each calendar quarter. In general, core children's television programming is defined as programming that is (1) designed to meet the educational and informational needs of children aged 16 years or younger as one of its significant purposes; (2) at least 30 minutes in length; (3) identified throughout the program with the educational/informational (E/I) symbol; (4) aired weekly at a regularly scheduled time between the hours of 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.; and (5) identified at the time of airing and to program guide publishers as being "core programming" designed for a specific age range of children.
Under the Commission's rules, the amount of children's programming required for multicasting DTV stations increases in proportion to the additional hours of free programming offered on the multicast channels, up to an additional three hours per week for each multicast stream. Specifically, for every 28 hours, or portion thereof, of free video programming per week provided on a DTV digital stream, the station is required to provide an additional 0.5 hours of children's programming, up to a maximum of three hours per week. The maximum would be required for a station providing a 24 hour programming stream, seven days a week. For each additional free digital programming stream, the same analysis would apply.
Stations are also reminded to provide the required on-air identification of core programs that are specifically designed to educate and inform children. Thus, at the beginning of each core children's program, stations should announce that the upcoming program satisfies the Commission's core children's programming requirements. Furthermore, core children's programming must also contain the E/I symbol or "bug" superimposed on the program to identify the program as meeting the educational and informational needs of children. The revised Form 398 now includes a question requiring certification that the symbol was included during each core program.
Stations have been fined at renewal time for insufficient documentation showing compliance with the children's rules or for missing documentation for any quarters during the license term. The FCC has also issued multiple "show cause" orders, proposing to downgrade the status of Class A LPTV stations for noncompliance with these requirements. Accordingly, stations would be well advised to prepare and maintain all quarterly FCC Form 398s and commercial limit certifications required by the Commission's rules.
Commercial limits
In addition to broadcasting programming responsive to the educational and informational needs of children, the Commission's rules limit the amount of commercial material that can be aired during programming aimed at children aged 12 and under. Specifically, the rules state that "no commercial television broadcast station licensee shall air more than 10.5 minutes of commercial matter per hour during children's programming on weekends, or more than 12 minutes of commercial matter per hour on weekdays." In order to demonstrate compliance with this rule, stations must prepare and place proof of compliance with the commercial limits in the public inspection file by the tenth day of the month following the end of the calendar quarter. For the Second Quarter of 2012, proof of compliance with the children's television commercial limits must be placed in station's public inspection file by July 10, 2012.
There is no specific form for this purpose. Stations may keep program logs demonstrating compliance with the commercial limits; but if the logs are intended to satisfy the documentation requirement they must be placed in the public inspection file. Stations may also keep tapes sufficient to demonstrate compliance, and must make the tapes available for review upon request by a member of the public. Alternatively, stations may maintain lists of the number of commercial minutes per hour aired during children's programs, including a detailed listing of any overages. Such lists should be reviewed routinely by the station manager or program manager to ensure accuracy. Finally, the station (or the network or program syndicator) may certify that, as a standard practice, the station, network or syndicator formats and airs specifically identified children's programs that comply with the commercial limits in children's programming.
Stations are reminded to identify the programs subject to commercial limits and to describe any overages that have occurred. Note that while children's programming can be aimed at serving the educational and information needs of children up to 16 years of age, the commercial limits apply only to programs originally produced and broadcast primarily for an audience of children aged 12 and under.


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Pulselive.co.ke
Kenya's most profitable company, Safaricom's hold on the economy is getting stronger as it contributes about 6.5 per cent of GDP
george tubei
The firm had 5,556 employees as at March 2018, who earned a total of Sh10.23 billion in salaries, bonuses, pension contributions and employee performance share awards.
According to the company's latest annual sustainability report, Safaricom grew its value chain by Sh57 billion to Sh543 billion in the year ended March 2018.
This is an improvement from last year when Safaricom said its activities supported more than 682,000 jobs and contributed Sh486 billion to the economy.
Kenya's most profitable company, Safaricom's hold on the Kenyan economy is intact, stronger and only continues to increase and deepened with time.
At Sh543 billion, Safaricom's contribution to the Kenyan economy is equivalent to 6.5 per cent of GDP and sustained nearly 897,372 jobs.
"When monetised, the net value of the most material social, environmental and economic impacts of the company, both positive and negative, gives an indication of the total value that Safaricom creates for the people of Kenya," the company says in the report prepared by consultancy firm KPMG.
As per the report Safaricom says that 171,369 jobs are directly related to the company, while the rest are derived from indirect activities such as suppliers and users of the company's various products.
Also read: All you need to know about profitably running Kenya's largest mobile network money service, M-Pesa outlet
The firm had 5,556 employees as at March 2018, who earned a total of Sh10.23 billion in salaries, bonuses, pension contributions and employee performance share awards.After paying all its employees handsomely, the firm still made a Sh55.3 billion profit in the year to March 2018.
The Kenyan government also had a piece of Safaricom's cake and the firm paid a total of Sh40 billion to the exchequer for the financial year ended March 2018 — Sh24.6 billion in tax and Sh15.4 billion in dividends for the Treasury's 25 per cent stake.
In addition to the traditional voice, messaging and data services, Safaricom has used its mobile money platform M-Pesa to extend its economic reach.
M-Pesa alone employs thousands of agents and is used by a large number of merchants to process payment, making it a key player in the national payments system.
The company also recently set up its online shop dubbed 'masoko' in a bid to diversify its portfolio and tap into Kenya's fast-growing e-commerce market.
In an effort to continue remaining as the market leader, besides all the expenses the company undertook, it further pumped Sh36.4 billion into capital expenditure, mainly deployed to expand its fibre network for high-speed data to homes and businesses.
Latest data from Communications Authority of Kenya shows that Safaricom has a market share of 71.9 per cent in mobile subscriptions followed by Airtel with a 14.9 per cent market share and Telkom Kenya which has 8.4 per cent.
Safaricom, which will be celebrating its 18th birthday this year, is the largest listed firm on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) with a market capitalisation of Sh941.5 billion and Kenya's most profitable.
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The vertebral column is also known as the spinal column or spine ( [link] ). It consists of a sequence of vertebrae (singular = vertebra), each of which is separated and united by an intervertebral disc . Together, the vertebrae and intervertebral discs form the vertebral column. It is a flexible column that supports the head, neck, and body and allows for their movements. It also protects the spinal cord, which passes down the back through openings in the vertebrae.
The adult vertebral column consists of 24 vertebrae, plus the sacrum and coccyx. The vertebrae are divided into three regions: cervical C1–C7 vertebrae, thoracic T1–T12 vertebrae, and lumbar L1–L5 vertebrae. The vertebral column is curved, with two primary curvatures (thoracic and sacrococcygeal curves) and two secondary curvatures (cervical and lumbar curves).
The vertebral column originally develops as a series of 33 vertebrae, but this number is eventually reduced to 24 vertebrae, plus the sacrum and coccyx. The vertebral column is subdivided into five regions, with the vertebrae in each area named for that region and numbered in descending order. In the neck, there are seven cervical vertebrae, each designated with the letter "C" followed by its number. Superiorly, the C1 vertebra articulates (forms a joint) with the occipital condyles of the skull. Inferiorly, C1 articulates with the C2 vertebra, and so on. Below these are the 12 thoracic vertebrae, designated T1–T12. The lower back contains the L1–L5 lumbar vertebrae. The single sacrum, which is also part of the pelvis, is formed by the fusion of five sacral vertebrae. Similarly, the coccyx, or tailbone, results from the fusion of four small coccygeal vertebrae. However, the sacral and coccygeal fusions do not start until age 20 and are not completed until middle age.
An interesting anatomical fact is that almost all mammals have seven cervical vertebrae, regardless of body size. This means that there are large variations in the size of cervical vertebrae, ranging from the very small cervical vertebrae of a shrew to the greatly elongated vertebrae in the neck of a giraffe. In a full-grown giraffe, each cervical vertebra is 11 inches tall.
The adult vertebral column does not form a straight line, but instead has four curvatures along its length (see [link] ). These curves increase the vertebral column's strength, flexibility, and ability to absorb shock. When the load on the spine is increased, by carrying a heavy backpack for example, the curvatures increase in depth (become more curved) to accommodate the extra weight. They then spring back when the weight is removed. The four adult curvatures are classified as either primary or secondary curvatures. Primary curves are retained from the original fetal curvature, while secondary curvatures develop after birth.


March 21, 2018 at 9:55p.m.
The Western Reserve Port Authority approved an additional three years worth of support for the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber of Commerce-led committee that works to keep the local Air Force Reserve base viable and open.
The port authority board asked a few questions Wednesday first about the Eastern Ohio Military Affairs Commission and how it spends the $25,000 a year the port authority provides.
The authority first approved the money for three years when the commission was formed in 2015.
Member Sam Covelli, who first raised the question, said he agreed with Klingle. "When I brought it up, I just want to know exactly where the money is going, that's all," Covelli said.
Atty. Vito Abruzzino, commission director, said base closures typically occur on the "back end of a lame-duck president," so if President Donald Trump were re-elected, he would be a lame duck and probably initiate a study of bases in 2023 with closures occurring near 2024.
March 22, 2018 12:06 a.m.
January 21, 2015 10:55 p.m.
January 22, 2015 12:10 a.m.
March 18, 2015 7:30 p.m.
April 26, 2016 12:05 a.m.


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Location: Home › Music Articles › MpFree: The Scottish rapper with a message for young prisoners
MpFree: The Scottish rapper with a message for young prisoners
Tony Cumming's spoke to Marc Pawson, otherwise known as MPFREE, about his life and ministry
MpFree
Anyone who's heard Scottish rapper MpFree's contribution to "Old Rugged Cross" on Chip Kendall's 'Holy Freaks' album will know that the Glasgow-raised emcee is an exceptional talent. What they may not know yet though is that a lot of MpFree's growing fan base currently resides in prison. The recent release of MpFree's mixtape 'Writers Block' brings to the spotlight an amazing work being conducted by the 31 year old rapper. 'Writers Block' was recorded inside Polmont's Young Offenders Institution and its 19 tracks include contributions from young men within Polmont. The album is being distributed to 16 prisons in Scotland to inspire inmates with its positive message.
Said Rab Hayes, officer at HMYOI, "MpFree gave his time to come and help the young men learn the art of rap and he inspired them to complete their own projects. It then dawned on all of us involved that we should get this recorded and let the world know that people from different backgrounds and different life choices can come together and deliver a high quality, entertaining and positive album."
MpFree's real name is Marc Pawson. Despite his thick Glaswegian accent, Marc was actually born in Scarborough, North Yorkshire. He explained, "My mum is from Govan, and we moved up to Glasgow. I was in Scarborough till I was five. I was effectively raised just outside Glasgow. My parents split up, and Glasgow has a notoriety for being a rough area. When my dad left, it left me and my brother - me and my brother are twins - the responsibility to look after my sister. We got bullied a lot in primary school, so when we got into high school we decided we weren't really going to have that anymore. We both decided to take up martial arts classes, and fighting became a typical everyday thing - at a nightclub, on the streets."
Marc continued, "At the time I enjoyed fighting. I liked the rush though I never turned to alcohol or drugs like many of my mates though I used to smoke a bit of hash. I got arrested for something I'd done a while back. It was an amalgamation of a while load of motoring violations - street racing and different things. They arrested me and put me in prison. I had a girlfriend whose whole family were Christians though she wasn't at the time. Anyway, her father came to pick me up from prison. He'd been saying for a while, 'Come to church', and I wasn't really into it. The time he picked me up I felt I at least owed him to go along. They had this men's night and I heard about how God changed this guy's life. He was giving testimony. I thought, 'If God can radically change your life, I want that'. I responded right away, but obviously there's a transition. I started going on a Sunday, but I didn't feel the worship, I didn't feel the Word half the time. I liked going because there were young guys there who had been in similar situations and they showed me friendship and fellowship - made me feel welcome. I looked forward to going because I could see the guys who were becoming my friends. Through different teachings they had at night in the youth, then getting a hold of a Bible and reading the Word for myself, God started to sculpture and mould."
Marc's church had what they called Encounter Weekends. At one of these they showed a clip from the film The Passion, the renowned Mel Gibson-directed depiction of Christ's crucifixion. The film had a devastating effect on Marc. He said, 'I used to do a lot of blaspheming, and I remember when I seen the punishment Jesus took on my behalf when all I was doing was cursing him, using his name in vain - and obviously from reading that he knew me before I was born - I think to myself, 'What a wretch! I'm deserving of punishment, yet he took that punishment 10 times or a hundred times.' That revolutionized my whole mindset from Christianity, who Jesus was. It was like being in a fight again: I felt as through someone had knocked me about."
One of the things that happened soon after his conversion was that he married his girlfriend Gemma. Said Marc, "Three months after I got saved, she came to the Lord as well. Her family were ecstatic."
Marc had grown up listening to rap music. He explained, "My friend's older brother was into it. They were getting tapes from America - N.W.A., Ice Cube, Public Enemy - and I thought, 'This is good music'. I could relate to it too, because a lot of them came from fatherless families, gang backgrounds. At school I would write rhymes with my friends. It continued as a hobby: we used to make our own mixtapes back where you'd hold the record button and play button at the same time. It had a big influence on my life. After I got saved I stopped listening to rap because of all the things that it encourages. I was really struggling for six months because it was such a big part of my life. My wife was encouraging me: she was like, 'Why don't you be a Christian rapper?' At that point I hadn't heard of any Christian rappers. Gemma was encouraging me: 'God's put something in you that you've not recognised. Why don't you use it?'
"Around this time, in 2009, my youth pastor, Gary, at our church - Freedom City Church in Cumbernauld -was saying, 'We're going to do this outreach in Germany. Apparently it's quite a big hip-hop culture: can you do a couple of songs?' I made some beats and then I wrote some songs. One of them was called 'My Testimony'; another was called 'The Walls Of This City'. Gary was part of a rock band; they'd done it and it was great. When the German emcee called me out the whole place went mental. I'm out rapping, the guys probably don't have a clue what I'm saying, but the place went crazy. I gave a bit of testimony - got it translated. Loads of people came up to me and they were impacted by the lyrics and by the testimony. I'm going to share this with you guys, but the only other person who knows this is my wife: I went home and I cried the whole night, because that was the moment God showed me what he'd called me to do, why I'd been given a gift. It was the grace of God. It was awesome."
God continued to open doors and in 2011 MpFree, as he now called himself, was able to record the mixtape 'Battle' which was eventually to reach number two on the Amazon hip-hop chart. Marc explained how it came about, "I didn't have a lot of money, and there's a guy in my church, Andy, who's done a wee bit of work for Revival FM. I was sharing my heart with him and he went out and bought some recording equipment. We've done our first mixtape - hip-hop terminology for a free album. So I've done my first mixtape, and God started opening the doors. 'Battle' was my first album and I wanted to make sure it was the best it could possibly be. So I had the chance to go down to Abbey Road Studios where it was mastered by a guy called Steve Rook, who'd done a lot of the Beatles stuff."
So how did MpFree's connection with Polmont Young Offenders Institution materialise? The rapper explained, "At an event I was doing, there was a prison chaplain there. He bought one of my CDs and took it back to one of the prisons he worked in - Polmont Prison, which is Scotland's main young offenders prison. The deejays aren't allowed to play rap because it encourages violence and sex and drugs - all that stuff. They've got a radio station; it's called Polmont FM. He took it to the radio deejay and said, 'This is rap music, but it's faith-based, and it's encouraging: it's got the message of hope in it'. Rab started playing the CD, and I was completely unaware of this. The inmates started responding and they were saying to the deejay, 'Who's this guy you're playing? He's really good.' I got an email from a guy saying, 'I've been playing your music. Would you come in to give some testimony, do some music live?'"
In 2012 MpFree was to make his first of many appearances at Polmont. He enthused, "The very first time I went in, 25 inmates turned up and 12 responded to the Gospel. It was phenomenal; I was so blessed to see that. I've been doing that a few times. The chaplains network, they talk, so one of the graces was that the deejay from Polmont contacted me and said, 'I've had a word with the governor and she was wondering if you'd come in and do a full gig. We've never done a hip-hop gig before, we don't know how it's going to go. Generally, at an event we get 25, 30 inmates. Would you be willing to come in and do it?' I was encouraged that God would give me the opportunity. So myself and my deejay got some speakers, set a date, and 80 inmates turned up. The place was rocking. We went into the lunch hall, set the speakers up, and the place was bouncing. The prisoners were on their chairs going mental. The guards were on edge: they were calling back-up. Through that I've been in touch, some of the prisoners wrote me letters saying how the lyrics have impacted their lives. It's something that's continued to grow. The prison ministry is my main passion. Through the albums, all this stuff, if I can continue to do prison ministry till I die, that's what I want to do. I'm seeing guys in there doing stuff I used to be into - just being able to witness to them there's another way: 'If you don't have the strength, Jesus will give you the strength. You weren't made for this, you were made for something greater.'"
About Tony Cummings
Tony Cummings is the music editor for Cross Rhythms website and attends Grace Church in Stoke-on-Trent.
Comment Bookmark Tell a friend Print version
Posted by Gillian Reid in Bathgate @ 12:55 on Apr 14 2015
I saw MPFree on Songs of Praise this week and was inspired and blessed - what the Lord can do with a life He impacts is awesome.
Posted by e yates in saltcoats @ 11:00 on Apr 13 2015
saw mpFree on songs of praise brill something the young ones can relate to keep up the good work
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MPFree artist profile
Ridiculous Release
Scottish emcee MPFree releases single
Learning Fatherhood
Young Offenders Institution inmates join rapper MPFree on mixtape
Flying Away
Malokai feature on single by rapper mpfree
Free Rapping
Rapper Mpfree releases 'Battle' EP
Mark Pierce has released a four-song EP, 'MPFree'. The project is available for ...
For more on MPFree visit the MPFree artist profile
2014: Ridiculous (Digital Only)
2013: Writers Block
2012: Battle (Digital Only)
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Home/Ghanaian News/Amidu can prosecute you – High Court tells Ayariga
Amidu can prosecute you – High Court tells Ayariga
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga, has failed in his legal attempt to stop the Special Prosecutor, Mr Martin Alamisi Amidu, from prosecuting him over allegations of using public office for private gains.
The Accra High Court, presided over by Justice Afia Serwaa Asare-Botwe, yesterday dismissed Mr Ayariga's application challenging the capacity of Mr Amidu to be the Special Prosecutor.
The application was in relation to a criminal case against the MP and six others, including the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Bawku, Hajia Hawa Ninchema, for allegedly engaging in procurement breaches over the purchase of an ambulance.
It was the case of the legislator that Mr Amidu was above 65 years and, therefore, per Article 199 (1) and (4) of the 1992 Constitution, he was not 'qualified' to hold the office of Special Prosecutor, which is a public office.
Mr Ayariga, therefore, wanted the court to strike out the charge sheet which gave rise to the criminal proceedings against him on the basis that the charge sheet was "defective" because it had the signature of Mr Amidu, who "had no capacity in law" to append his signature.
However, in a ruling, the court was of the view that making a determination on the capacity of Mr Amidu to hold office would amount to usurping the powers of the Supreme Court, which has the sole jurisdiction to make such a determination.
"This court will not overreach its powers. Mr Martin Amidu is the Special Prosecutor.
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