Perhaps the reason for the lack of uptake is more prosaic. The cost of systems from the traditional KM firms has made adoption a pricey gamble that has put off all but the boldest buyer. When its president Steve Ballmer visited London last year, he merely revealed generalities. Lotus has gone much further and the Raven beta next month will help measure its progress. By using a template approach and familiar Internet and Notes standards, Raven could well change the way KM is regarded.
Raven organises assets by community, interest, task or job focus.
Its Discovery Engine feature categorises content and organisational expertise into a catalogue that can be searched through a Web browser. A Hotlist displays the status of a user's most important information. Lotus will also offer methodologies and services. It is an approach that is desperately needed to realise KM's potential to change the way firms organise themselves. All rights reserved.