A Platform for Recombining Process Knowledge Chunks

We describe ReKon, a platform that contains fine-granular templates, each describing a process knowledge chunk, which may be combined, as needed, to support ad hoc processes needed in large projects. The platform allows user-lead (re)-construction of a process to deal with the unique and emergent needs of a project by leveraging prior knowledge encoded in process chunks. We have populated ReKon with process chunks created from more than 1200 real-world project templates contributed by four consulting organizations. The fine-granularity of process chunks contained in ReKon represents a direct response to the emergent nature of large projects that defies high-volume production processes. The paper develops the underlying meta-model and operations for ReKon that adapt and extend the combination quadrant in Nonaka and Takeuchi's knowledge creation framework. A two-phase evaluation illustrates the need for ReKon and points to its potential usefulness.