Roles of Knowledge Science in Technology Creation Yoshiteru Nakamori School of Knowledge Science Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST) Ishikawa 923-1292, Japan An Interdisciplinary Research Program in JAIST Technology Creation Based on Knowledge Science A Systems Methodology for Knowledge Integration A Structure-Agency-Social Action Model
Information and Knowledge INFORMATION (A) Knowledge transmitted by character, sign, voice, etc. (B) Data arranged to be useful for decision making (A) Knowledge (Transmit) KNOWLEDGE (C) Recognition memorized personally or socially (D) Judgment or a system of judgment which has objective validity (B) Data (Arrangement) Information (Recognition) (C) Knowledge (Judgment) (D) Knowledge What is the energy to bring such transformation? (Judgment) (D) Knowledge INTELLIGENCE (E) Computers ability to judge things automatically (F) People s ability to understand and learn things Information Science + Management Science Knowledge Science
School of Knowledge Science in JAIST Systems Science Social Systems Socio-Technical Systems Complex Systems Analysis Management Science Organizational Dynamics Decision-Making Processes Research and Development Processes Information Science Knowledge-Based Systems Knowledge Structure Creativity Support Systems The School of Knowledge Science, established in 1998 at Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, is the first school established in the world to make knowledge a target of science. At this graduate school, knowledge management research is already producing results in areas such as knowledge conversion theory, knowledge systematizing methods, and methods for the development of creativity in the field of management science.
Knowledge Science Modeling and management of knowledge creation process. An interdisciplinary research field Study of Scientific Knowledge Creation School of Knowledge Science Knowledge conversion theory, knowledge systematizing methods, and methods for development of creativity in management science. Research Program A vehicle to integrate theory and practice, to combine knowledge in social science and knowledge in natural science. New Direction Knowledge science should help researchers produce creative theoretical results, in important natural sciences. New Environment An environment or Ba in Japanese, which supports the development and practice of scientific knowledge creation.
The 21st Century COE Program (October 2003 March 2008) Technology Creation Based on Knowledge Science School of Information Science School of Knowledge Science School of Material Science JAIST was founded on October 1, 1990 as the first national institute in Japan that consists of graduate schools without undergraduate programs and possesses its own campus and organization for research and education.
Idea Y=F ZW (X) Y=F(X) Talented people who can manage creative research activities Knowledge Coordinators Z New Scientific Knowledge Y F Knowledge Creators Talented people with advanced research-and-development capability Environment for Knowledge Creation Knowledge creation theory W Accumulation of Social Information Knowledge discovery Knowledge representation Technology road mapping Knowledge database X Existing Scientific Knowledge Knowledge Creation Support Systems Knowledge structuring system Creativity support system Knowledge management system Visualization system
Outcome Creation of scientific knowledge (Y) Applied technology of living functions, Super-molecule biomaterial technology, Applied technology of useful proteins, Environmental protection technology, New materials with highly efficient characteristics, Energy saving plastics, Functional conductor technology, Advanced information technology, High reliability software, etc. Z Y F X W Creation of ideal environment for research and practice (F) Laboratory knowledge management, Knowledge creating systems, etc.
Key Projects in Knowledge Science JCP KS 1: Systems Methodologies JCP KS 3: Management of Technology JCP KS 2: Knowledge Creation from Data Mining Scientific Dimension Y Social Dimension Z F X W Creative Dimension JCP KS 4: Knowledge Creation Support Systems
Projects in the Center for Strategic Development of Science and Technology JCP SC 1: Information Infrastructure for Knowledge Management JCP SC 2: Theory of Knowledge Expression and Integration JCP SC 3: Strategic Knowledge Management in Laboratories JCP SC 4: Project Management Y JCP SC 5: International Networking Z F W JCP SC 6: Cooperation with Industry X JCP SC 7: Inter-school Education
Interdisciplinary Research Projects Material Science (MS) and Knowledge Science (KS) Research Strategy for JCP MS 1: Advanced Biotechnology JCP MS 2: Super Molecule Biomaterials JCP MS 3: Nano Materials Y JCP MS 4: Metal Catalyst Reaction Z F W X JCP MS 5: Conditions for R&D Coordination
Information Gathering Data/text mining technology Data/knowledge-base systems Theories of Technology Strategy Knowledge management theory Strategic innovation theory Information Planning Knowledge Creation Theory Design of environment Systems methodology Research Planning Support Imagination supporting media Road mapping methods Research Management Document management Information exchange system Knowledge Representation Knowledge systematization Visualization technology Deep Woods Experiment Knowledge Coordinators Announcement commercialization industrialization Knowledge Creators Death Valley Announcement of Research Results, Archive System Management of Technology and Intellectual Property
Summary of Program We introduced a research program: Theory and Practice of Technology Creation Based on Knowledge Science. The goal of this program is to create a world-class center of excellence in the following areas: Theoretical Research: With a final target of strategic research and the development of scientific technologies, we will study knowledge fusion and development in important scientific fields, and then establish a theory of scientific knowledge creation. Practical Research: As we develop theories, we will apply them in scientific laboratories and improve them by feedback from practice. Repeating this task, we will improve the theory and promote the creation of useful scientific technologies. Education: At the same time, we will train graduate students in this environment, and teach them to become knowledge coordinators or knowledge creators.
Systems Methodology for Knowledge Integration Will, Desire, Hope Public Knowledge Information Recognition Social Dimension Involvement Experience-based Knowledge Wisdom-based Knowledge Scientific Dimension Creative Dimension Intelligence Imagination Inference Intuition Sense Insight-based Knowledge Integration Intervention Synthesized Discovered Knowledge Problem Requirement Perspective i-system
i-system As a Knowledge Construction Model An interpretation by Zhichang Zhu (Visiting Professor) i Sources: Western structure-agency paradigm, Eastern dialectic thinking, Shinayakana principles Features: holistic, analytical, processual, constructivist Implications: sociologically informed knowledge construction and technology innovation
Shinayakana Systems Principles Perception of systems multiplicity Nonlinear reductionism Integrated assessments Expanding and deepening one s insight into the system
Western structure-agency paradigm Institutional theories IT propose that the systemic environment consists of regulative, cognitive and normative institutions that predispose coercive, mimetic and normative isomorphic action; later also looks at institutional diversity, change and entrepreneurship Structuration theory ST a social theory by Giddens (also Bourdieu), to overcome dualism, contends that structure and agency simultaneously constitute and influence each other during social practice Critical realism CR a socio-philosophical theory by Bhasker (and Archer), differing from Structuration theory by emphasising analytical dualism and temporal separability between structure and agency Actor-Network theory ANT represented by Latour, addresses the pattern of social practice with particular focus on the evolution and institutionalisation of technology
Keywords Structure the systemic, collective contexts and their underlying principles, which constrain and enable human action Agency the capability with which actors, who are socio-technologically embedded, reproduce and transform the world Construction the social process through which actors reproduce and transform structure and agency
i-system A Sociologist Interpretation structure agency social action constructs Intelligence Social Front Involvement Imagination Scientific Front i Cognitive Front In-formation Intervention Knowledge, strategy Issues, Problems
Three Fronts as Structure Scientific-actual front appears to be established theories, concepts, categories, dominant design, technology infrastructure & capacities, information explosion, broader factual factors (socioeconomic trends, operating procedures, etc.) Cognitive-mental front should be structured mentality, frames of reference, habitus, schemas, hidden assumptions, beliefs, codes, narrative, styles, dominant logic, paradigms, metamodels, normal science Social-relational front ought to be social norms, values, expectations, obligations, orders of behavior, patterns of interaction, power relations, legitimacy, regulatory regimes (e.g., way(s) research/innovation/technology is organized, funded, evaluated, rewarded, diffused and used)
i 2 : Knowing as Action A Constructionist View Problems /issues Intervention In-formation Knowledge /strategy Knowledge and Action in Eastern Thinking Knowledge and action are but one. Seeking knowledge by action, and for action.
Also in the West Knowledge is knowing how, a capacity to perform/act in particular circumstances (Ryle 1949) Our knowing is in our action (Schon 1983) Knowledge is less about truth and reason and more about the practice of intervening knowledgeably and purposefully in the world (Spender 1996) All doing is knowing, and all knowing is doing (Maturana and Varela 1998) Epistemology of knowledge and epistemology of knowing (Cook and Brown 1999) Mutual constitution of knowing and practice. Knowing is an ongoing social accomplishment (Orlikowski 2002)
Knowledge Construction - Structure, Agency & Social Action - Problems Issues Involvement Socialrelational front Intervention In-formation Scientificactual front Cognitivemental front Imagination Intelligence Knowledge Strategy
We intend to achieve A sociological understanding, and a holist (systems) one, of knowledge construction A generic model beyond, say, new product development or particular industry(ies) Open to the West, particularly institutionalism, structuration theory and critical realism, while keep a critical distance Address the internal complexities of structure and agency as well as the complex relationship between No claim to completeness, perfection, culturallyunbounded or interest-free, expecting criticism, deliberation and collaboration
Managers Further Applied Research How to sensitize researchers toward structure-agency-action complexities? How to shape and enact favored temporal-relational contexts so as to facilitate diverse agency and actions Researchers How different agentic orientations gives researchers varying capacities to enact and appropriate structure complexity? How do researchers reconstruct their agency complexity so as to balance temporal action orientations in contingent situations? Policy makers How to reconstruct education system and other social practices in order to nurture robust agency/agentic orientations? How to innovate and adopt different policies/systems in order to facilitate suitable agency in various sectors and circumstances?
i 3 as Multidimensional Agency structure agency Scientificactual front Structure the systemic contexts and their underlying principles that constrain and enable human action Agency the capability with which socially embedded actors reproduce and transform the world Intelligence Imagination Involvement Socialrelational front Cognitivemental front
Intervention (sustainable development) Why is this a system? Imagination Hierarchical structure Emergent characteristics Function of communication Function of control and feedback Level 1 Involvement (structuring) Integration Intelligence Level 2 (strategies) (prediction) (mathematical modeling) (assumptions) Imagination (scenarios) Involvement (data collection) (dreams) Level 4 Level 3 (possibilities) (qualitative data) (numerical data)
How is this system evaluated? Are the system, actors, and contents well defined? Is it foresight power enough? Is the totality achieved? Is it actually useful? How does this methodology utilize capabilities of people and computers complementarily? Involvement Networking with the help of information technology initiated by people Intelligence Modeling with computer based on ideas of people Integration Strategic scenario-based system Imagination Computer simulation with assumptions given by people Intervention Activation of environmental industry
How is trans-disciplinary knowledge exchange achieved? Involvement Management science Social science Cultural sciences Intelligence Natural sciences Mathematics Engineering Imagination Information science Economics Statistics Integration Systems science Intervention Systems science Different disciplines are used to determine boundary conditions or to check consistency of knowledge of subsystems. However, this is not performed automatically. This is an interactive system.
Knowledge Science Coordinators Nakamori Lab. Intervention Material Science Creators Takagi Lab. Integration Creative Dimension Imagination Insight-based Knowledge Knowledge about Promoting Research 創 造 性 を 高 める 場 Social Dimension Involvement Experience-based Knowledge 社 Knowledge 会 的 な 深 about 刻 さ Serious 市 場 Illness 調 査 Scientific Dimension Intelligence Science-based Knowledge 科 Scientific 学 知 識 Knowledge データベースの about Protein 構 築 Case: Folding Reaction of Protein
Scientific Dimension (Construction of a Database) Scientific Knowledge about Protein Intelligence Intervention Imagination Knowledge of Individual Researchers Involvement Knowledge about Patents, Products, Policies, etc. (Roles of creators) Exchange opinions Summarize papers Register knowledge (Roles of coordinators) Database management Text mining technique Knowledge structuring Intelligence Knowledge from Academic Journals or Textbooks, etc. Integration Database
Social Dimension (Collection of Social Information) Involvement Intervention Knowledge about Serious Illness (mad cow disease, senile dementia) Imagination Knowledge about Relevance with One s Research Involvement Knowledge about Influence on Society and Economy (Roles of creators) Personal roadmap Gather information Read textbooks (Roles of coordinators) Agent technology Questionnaire survey Knowledge structuring Intelligence Knowledge about Illness and Treatment Integration Social Information
Creative Dimension (Construction of Creative Environment) Knowledge about Promoting Research Imagination Intervention Imagination Knowledge about Environment to Raise Individual Creativity Involvement Knowledge about the Way of Meetings in a Laboratory (Roles of creators) Use and evaluation Positive participation Research proposal (Roles of coordinators) Creativity support Systems techniques Knowledge-based system Intelligence Knowledge about Equipment and Reference for Research Integration Environment