What the Dewey Decimal System did for libraries - Knowledge Catalogs can do for I.T. organizations.

1. Knowledge Catalogs How a taxonomy extends the use and value of knowledge

2. New books arrive every day. Where should they go? More than 200,000 libraries choose a 135-year old strategy to shelve their books. They have a lot of knowledge to organize.

3. Books are labeled, cataloged, and placed on shelves. If they have value, they will not remain shelved very long.

4. Purchased once, a book is read and returned many times. A book retains its value for years. It is always easy to find.

5. The Dewey Decimal System is just one example of a taxonomy, not limited to any type of equipment or software. Books are easy to find because 200,000 libraries have implemented a knowledge catalog – a taxonomy they update and customize as needed.

6. Libraries can reuse, rather than repurchase. Knowledge is easily found, widely accessible, and lasting in value.

7. I.T. knowledge – and knowledge about knowledge – should be easily found, widely accessible, and lasting in value.

8. When Requirements are analyzed… when Metadata is identified… when Business Rules are documented… they can use a taxonomy.

9. Like the Dewey Decimal System, a knowledge catalog is not limited to any type of equipment or software. A good taxonomy works with many tools.

10. Requirements, Metadata and Business Rules are documented every day. Using existing tools, each can be organized as a knowledge catalog.