A 21st Century Great Chain of Being?
September 4, 2010
As social technologies take hold and challenge the relationships between data, information, knowledge and wisdom within enterprise organizations, a new hierarchy becomes relevant. The Web site cmswire.com explores this interesting theory in a recent article titled, “Social Media Is Challenging Notions of the Data, Information, Knowledge, Wisdom (DIKW) Hierarchy.” According to the article, social media networks are challenging the historical DIKW model, as described by Jonathan Hey and many before him.
The traditional DIKW model begins with data as unprocessed information, then processed information. Next comes knowledge, then wisdom. The article says that “Social media can speed the capture and dissemination of knowledge. And therefore, the lines between information and knowledge begin to blur. Certainly, the further you move up the hierarchy, the less structured information becomes and the harder it is to capture.”
Interesting points. Some recent DIKW versions are downplaying or omitting wisdom. Knowledge is one thing, but knowing when to use that knowledge requires wisdom. Just a thought. Middle Ages. Great chain of being. Formal social hierarchy. Horses trampling peasants.
Stephen E Arnold, September 4, 2010
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