Knowledge organization (KO)
Knowledge organization (KO) is a multifaceted field primarily linked to library and information science, with applications extending into computer science, economics, and social science. It encompasses the methods by which information is structured, classified, and interpreted, influencing how knowledge is accessed and utilized. Central to KO are processes such as indexing, document description, and classification, which seek to enhance the quality and effectiveness of knowledge organization systems (KOS) and knowledge organizing processes (KOP). The discipline has historical roots dating back to the early 20th century, notably with the work of librarian Henry Bliss and the development of his bibliographic classification system.
KO can be divided into two main branches: social knowledge organization, which focuses on the societal management and distribution of information, and intellectual knowledge organization, which concentrates on organizing specific subjects. The analytic-synthetic method and facet-analytic method are key approaches within KO that facilitate efficient classification and categorization of knowledge. In contemporary contexts, KO plays a significant role in enhancing knowledge transfer and storage across various domains, including business, where effective knowledge organization can provide a competitive edge. Overall, KO serves as a foundational concept essential for navigating and classifying both natural and human social systems.
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Knowledge organization (KO)
Knowledge organization is a field with diverse applications in several areas, but it is most closely associated with library and information science. It is also utilized in computer science, economics, and social science. Knowledge organization (KO) is how information is organized, classified, and interpreted, and how different forms of organization can influence the quality and usage of knowledge. Knowledge organization, in the context of library and information science, primarily consists of indexing, document description, and classification. As a field of study, knowledge organization also seeks to determine both the nature and quality of knowledge organization systems (KOS) and knowledge organizing processes (KOP). In a more general sense, knowledge organization is about the organization and structure of research and educational institutions, the professional world, the media, and knowledge in society.
Background
Knowledge organization is closely tied to the discipline of library and information sciences. The idea of knowledge organization originated in the 1929 book The Organization of Knowledge and the System of the Sciences by American librarian Henry Bliss. Bliss developed a library classification system called bibliographic classification. Other influential individuals in the field of knowledge organization were librarians William Charles Berwick Sayers, Ernest Cushing Richardson, and Charles Ammi Cutter. The trio also applied knowledge organization to the classification of library books.
Several other factors contributed to the development of KO as a broad field of study. The creation of a journal known as International Classification in 1974, the establishment of the International Association of Knowledge Organization (ISKO) in 1989, and the development of the domain-analytic approach in the 1990s. This approach focused on issues concerning knowledge theory within the field of KO.
Other influential contributors to knowledge organization include Julius Otto Kaiser, Birger Hjørland, and Melvil Dewey. Within the realm of knowledge organization, Kaiser is known for his significant contributions to subject cataloging, which is the process of determining what specific works are about based on their content. Kaiser pioneered the analytical-synthetic classification method, a cornerstone in what can be considered “modern classification theory.”
Melvil Dewey, the father of modern librarianship, is best known for developing the Dewey Decimal Classification in 1876, which became the most popular library classification tool in the United States. Hjørland used the ideology behind semantic primitives—concepts in language that are primitive, universally understood, and cannot be broken down into a simpler form—to develop a general theory of semantics.
Overview
The analytic-synthetic method was an early foundational development in KO. It combined subject analysis, the detailed analysis of specific concepts, with subject representation, which consists of using symbols to denote information, such as what can be seen in the index of a book. The analytic-synthetic method paved the way for the development of mathematician and librarian S. R. Ranganathan's facet-analytic method. Ranganathan is sometimes called the father of the Indian library movement. The facet-analytic method is based on faceted classification, which organizes information into broad general categories, in addition to more niche categories (or facets) based on certain subjects. Faceted classification links these separate categories together to create a broader category. Elements of faceted classification are apparent in biological taxonomic classification. For example, an individual animal belongs to a species, a species is part of a genus, a genus is part of a family, and so on. Birger Hjørland argued that semantic elements are not unique attributes of language but are a part of preexisting models of reality. This idea examines knowledge organization as a broad theoretical concept as opposed to a technical practice.
Knowledge organization can be divided into two distinct branches: social knowledge organization and intellectual knowledge organization. Social knowledge organization concerns how information is managed and distributed within society. Intellectual knowledge organization deals with the organization of specific subjects. KO is a broad foundational idea with numerous technological, economic, and social applications. For instance, KO is utilized within the structure of the internet, in library classification, and in computer science in the form of certain knowledge organization systems and practices. Additionally, KOS and KOP must be classified and understood. This is where the more general, theoretical approach to knowledge organization relates to the specific KOS and KOP.
Knowledge organization in library sciences continues to evolve in the twenty-first century. Libraries have increased the inclusivity and diversity of subject headings in search catalogs. Cataloging practices began changing in the early 2000s to accommodate the digital environment. Richer metadata formats were created for online resources, and the search interface design utilized advanced knowledge organization to improve catalog search results. Artificial intelligence allowed the automation of classification, subject heading assignments, and reading recommendations.
Knowledge organization became an important field of study in the twenty-first century. Many business and academic fields use KOS and KOP to increase the efficiency of knowledge transfer, storage, and development. The study of knowledge organization is necessary because it improves knowledge organization systems and practices. This allows people to operate within and classify the natural world and human social structures. Understanding and properly implementing knowledge organization systems and practices is essential for businesses. These systems aid in business management, interpreting financial information, organizing business knowledge, and business competition. KOS and KOP are required for the actual organization of information and can be used in activities like accounting. Additionally, the structure and social distribution of knowledge can be studied within the business context. Employees combine their collective knowledge in some manner. Depending on how this knowledge is organized, the business can gain a competitive advantage or disadvantage compared to other businesses within the same field. Some estimates state that Fortune 500 companies lose billions of dollars annually by failing to distribute knowledge optimally.
Bibliography
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