Leveraging Communities to Collaboratively Develop & Operationalize Semantic Technologies

1

Leveraging Communities to Leveraging Communities to Collaboratively Develop & Collaboratively Develop & Operationalize Semantic Operationalize Semantic

TechnologiesTechnologies

Federal CIO Council – Best Practices Committee - Federal CIO Council – Best Practices Committee - SICoPSICoP

22ndnd Semantic Technologies for eGov Semantic Technologies for eGov ConferenceConference

at MITRE (McLean, VA)at MITRE (McLean, VA)

byby

Peter P. YimPeter P. Yim <[email protected]>

September 9, 2004 September 9, 2004

at theat the

( v 1.23 )

ppy / Leveraging_Communities_to_Operationalize_Semantic_Technologies_poster--PeterYim_20040909.ppt / Sep-2004 2 of 16

AbstractAbstractSemantic Technologies, applied in the presence of the ever increasing computing power and connectivity, could well bode the advent of a paradigm shift (in the sense of Thomas Kuhn's "Scientific Revolution") and usher the real "knowledge economy". What is going to be different this time, the author purports, is that it is more complex than anything else we had experience on, and is going to happen much faster than people may think. As Ray Kurzweil's research keeps showing us, in what he calls the "Law of Time and Chaos," these changes are all moving at an an exponential pace. We will, similarly, need the ways and means to improve our capabilities at an exponential rate, before we would be able to cope with what is coming. Doug Engelbart's "Bootstrap" approach towards developing a collective intelligence through Networked Improvement Communities spells out one strategy whereby we can tackle this imminent challenge.

In this paper, the author will share his insight on how we can collaboratively develop & operationalize semantic technologies, through developing and engaging virtual open communities. The author will explore the kind of "shared understanding" that needs to be developed; and the stakeholders, expertise and resources that have to be engaged, before we stand a chance to tackle the type of problem (which Horst Rittle calls a "wicked problem") at hand. The author will proceed to describe the CIM3 methodology, which involves the holistic application of collaboration in tools, process and people, and an organizational form -- the Fishnet Organization (Johansen & Swigart, 1994) -- that is, in his opinion, ideally suited for the purpose.

To demonstrate his point, the author will be citing examples from projects and communities of practice that he has been involved in, including those from the Bootstrap community, Ontolog-Forum, the OASIS-UBL standards effort, the ebXML Core Component Type Ontology project, as well as some of the e-Government initiatives like SINE, COLAB and SICoP.

The author concludes that open virtual enterprising over such Fishnet organizational form will afford us the agility we need to be competitive and innovative in tomorrow's knowledge economy. However, he also warns that the key to true "open" collaboration will lie in our own "attitude towards sharing."


Semantic TechnologiesSemantic Technologies, , applied in the presence of the applied in the presence of the

ever increasing computing ever increasing computing power and connectivity, could power and connectivity, could

well bode the advent of a well bode the advent of a

paradigm shiftparadigm shift (in the sense of (in the sense of

Thomas Kuhn's "Scientific Revolution")Thomas Kuhn's "Scientific Revolution") and usher the real and usher the real

""knowledge economyknowledge economy""


Understand Your Needs?Understand Your Needs?- What is your semantic application for?- What is your semantic application for?

• Reference standardsReference standards• Transaction processTransaction process• Information Mapping Information Mapping • learning & knowledge discoverylearning & knowledge discovery

Different applications calls for different approaches, technologies and skillset


What Resources do you need for What Resources do you need for your project?your project?

• Systems expertiseSystems expertise• Domain expertiseDomain expertise• Knowledge Engineering / Knowledge Engineering /

Knowledge Representation Knowledge Representation expertiseexpertise

• Software Engineering expertiseSoftware Engineering expertise• Program/Project managementProgram/Project management• FundingFunding


Why we need to Collaborate in Why we need to Collaborate in Communities of Practice?Communities of Practice?

• No one knows all the answers (don’t believe No one knows all the answers (don’t believe me? try addressing the “triple bottom line” )me? try addressing the “triple bottom line” )

• A lot of times, we are dealing with problems A lot of times, we are dealing with problems which we can’t even properly articulatewhich we can’t even properly articulate

• It’s urgent! We need our solution quick!It’s urgent! We need our solution quick!• Things around us are changing too fast, and Things around us are changing too fast, and

unpredictablyunpredictably• Bottom line: we need a collective intelligence Bottom line: we need a collective intelligence

to cope to cope


Why “Distributed” Collaboration?Why “Distributed” Collaboration?

• Face-to-face interaction, while good and Face-to-face interaction, while good and sometimes even necessary, is something sometimes even necessary, is something we can’t afford we can’t afford

• The expertise needed is too rare, or just The expertise needed is too rare, or just isn’t available locallyisn’t available locally

• Multiple perspectives improves qualityMultiple perspectives improves quality• We need to involve all stakeholders, and We need to involve all stakeholders, and

they aren’t all localthey aren’t all local• It’s more efficient, and it’s finally It’s more efficient, and it’s finally

feasiblefeasible


Introducing CIM3Introducing CIM3• CIM Engineering, Inc.CIM Engineering, Inc. - San Mateo, CA (since Jan 1989) - San Mateo, CA (since Jan 1989)• CIM3CIM3: “: “CCollaboration ollaboration IIn hun huMMan-an-MMachine-achine-MMethodology”ethodology”

Effectively, we are about optimizing systems of: Effectively, we are about optimizing systems of: PeoplePeople,, Tools Tools andand ProcessProcess

• Mission: Mission: to enable more effective distributed collaboration and virtual to enable more effective distributed collaboration and virtual enterprise through bootstrapping collective intelligence over the enterprise through bootstrapping collective intelligence over the InternetInternet

• Doing business as:Doing business as: ““cim3.comcim3.com”, “”, “cim3.netcim3.net” and “” and “cim3.orgcim3.org”” cim3.comcim3.com – the business arm of the company – the business arm of the company cim3.netcim3.net – the collaborative work environments where client – the collaborative work environments where client

Communities of Practice and distributed team workspaces are hosted Communities of Practice and distributed team workspaces are hosted cim3.orgcim3.org – the research arm, and holder of the company’s open – the research arm, and holder of the company’s open

technology, content and other intellectual propertiestechnology, content and other intellectual properties• Products/Services: providing an ISP/ASP based Products/Services: providing an ISP/ASP based Collaborative Work Collaborative Work

Environment (“CWE”)Environment (“CWE”) infrastructure that enables distributed project infrastructure that enables distributed project teams, virtual enterprise partners and communities of practice to work teams, virtual enterprise partners and communities of practice to work effectively over the Internet.effectively over the Internet.


Our Focus:Our Focus:Communities & Distributed Communities & Distributed

TeamsTeams• People as an integral part of the People as an integral part of the

systemsystem• The Community Spectrum The Community Spectrum [Kaplan/iCohere][Kaplan/iCohere]

Affinity NetworksAffinity Networks Learning CommunitiesLearning Communities Communities of Practice (CoP’s)Communities of Practice (CoP’s) Project TeamsProject Teams

• We optimize our infrastructure, tools and We optimize our infrastructure, tools and process for CoP’s and Distributed Project process for CoP’s and Distributed Project TeamsTeams


CIM3's ApproachCIM3's Approach• Augmentation - human-machine interaction - collaboration - communitiesAugmentation - human-machine interaction - collaboration - communities• Openness - we use open-source software & comply with open standards as Openness - we use open-source software & comply with open standards as

much as we can; we open-source our technology and content, and participate much as we can; we open-source our technology and content, and participate in open standards developmentin open standards development

• Capitalizing on the Internet technology: taking it Capitalizing on the Internet technology: taking it from the research and academic networkfrom the research and academic network to the current form as publishing mediato the current form as publishing media to Transactions and Web Services to Transactions and Web Services onto being its future as knowledge media in the Semantic Webonto being its future as knowledge media in the Semantic Web

• Providing Enterprise performance, quality, robustness, security & fault Providing Enterprise performance, quality, robustness, security & fault tolerancetolerance

• Providing platform neutrality: Providing platform neutrality: supporting machines on PC’s, Mac’s, Linux, Unix, …supporting machines on PC’s, Mac’s, Linux, Unix, …• System built upon a knowledge architecture optimized for distributed System built upon a knowledge architecture optimized for distributed

teamworkteamwork• Emphasis on effectiveness and strategic value - not technologyEmphasis on effectiveness and strategic value - not technology• Supporting entire user spectrum: from the everyday users to the power usersSupporting entire user spectrum: from the everyday users to the power users• While we do open-source work, we believe in properly remunerating our While we do open-source work, we believe in properly remunerating our

contributors, and in helping create a viable economic model for open work, contributors, and in helping create a viable economic model for open work, possibly in the form of Open Virtual Enterprises (OVE’s)possibly in the form of Open Virtual Enterprises (OVE’s)


Case Examples of Communities on the CIM3 Case Examples of Communities on the CIM3 CWECWE

• Ontolog-ForumOntolog-Forum• eGov: COLABeGov: COLAB• eGov: SINEeGov: SINE• GOV-CWEGOV-CWE• NIST-interopNIST-interop• Millennium Millennium

ProjectProject(AC/UNU)(AC/UNU)

• ProtégéProtégé• Digital Art Digital Art

OntologyOntology• … … (more)(more)


[ontolog-[ontolog-forum]forum]

• OntologOntolog is an open forum to: is an open forum to: Discuss practical issues and strategies associated Discuss practical issues and strategies associated

with the development of both formal and informal with the development of both formal and informal ontologies used in businessontologies used in business

Identify ontological engineering approaches that Identify ontological engineering approaches that might be applied to the UBL effort (and by extensionmight be applied to the UBL effort (and by extension, to the broader domain of eBusiness standardization efforts)

• What holds us together:What holds us together: ourour Core Value Core Value Developing Shared UnderstandingDeveloping Shared Understanding Openness Openness Advancing the practice of semantic engineeringAdvancing the practice of semantic engineering Doing meaningful work and making a difference with Doing meaningful work and making a difference with

itit

http://ontolog.cim3.net


An Organizational Form that the CWE aims An Organizational Form that the CWE aims at supporting – bringing us from at supporting – bringing us from

collaboration to innovation by forging the collaboration to innovation by forging the Open Virtual EnterprisesOpen Virtual Enterprises

Source: Institute for the Future: Johansen, R., Swigart, R. Upsizing the Individual in the Downsized Organization

The Fishnet OrganizationThe Fishnet Organization

these are temporary (or semi-permanent) hierarchies, that emerge out of the CoP's, which capitalize on distributed capabilities to

achieve specific purposes; when those purposes are achieved (or when the opportunities no longer exist), they disband, and the

resources (people, knowledge, skillsets) are returned to the CoP's where they come from.


The ChallengesThe Challenges• We need to be improving at an exponential rate, just to We need to be improving at an exponential rate, just to

cope with the exponential rate of “change” happening cope with the exponential rate of “change” happening around usaround us

• We need the “tools”, the “process”, and most importantly We need the “tools”, the “process”, and most importantly the “people” to all work together the “people” to all work together

• Team building, with distributed individuals who might Team building, with distributed individuals who might not even have met one another, is a challengenot even have met one another, is a challenge

• Trusted communities cannot be developed overnightTrusted communities cannot be developed overnight• The current economic and legal infrastructure aren’t The current economic and legal infrastructure aren’t

meant for these types of organizations meant for these types of organizations • The individual participants hold the key to the The individual participants hold the key to the

communities’ success – it’s in their “attitude towards communities’ success – it’s in their “attitude towards sharing”sharing”


For more information, visit:For more information, visit:

• eGov “COLAB” community work eGov “COLAB” community work environment – environment – http://colab.cim3.nethttp://colab.cim3.net

• [Ontolog-Forum] – our Open [Ontolog-Forum] – our Open International Community of Practice on International Community of Practice on Business Ontology – Business Ontology – http://ontolog.cim3.net/wiki/http://ontolog.cim3.net/wiki/

• CIM Engineering, Inc. – Collaborative CIM Engineering, Inc. – Collaborative Work Environment infrastructure Work Environment infrastructure hosting – hosting – http://www.cim3.comhttp://www.cim3.com


About the AuthorAbout the Author

Peter P. Yim is the CEO of CIM Engineering, Inc. (incorporated in California 1989; dba CIM3.com; CIM3.net & CIM3.org). He is also the Co-convener of [Ontolog-Forum], an open international community of practice on business ontologies, and a contributing member of the OASIS Universal Business Language (UBL) Technical Committee.

His company has been developing and providing hosted infrastructure that enables highly effective distributed project teams, communities of practice and open virtual enterprising. CIM3 is involved in projects ranging from the development of the ebXML Core Component Type Ontology ([cctont]), to the eGov - COLAB and SINE (Sustainable Intergovernmental Network Exchange) collaborative work environments.

Peter works out of Northern California (San Mateo, CA 94402) and can be reached at: [email protected] or (650) 578-9998

Documents

Leveraging Communities to Collaboratively Develop & Operationalize Semantic Technologies