Meeting knowledge management challenges through effective search

With the emergence of information- and knowledge-based economies, knowledge management has gained importance in organisations. It remains a challenge, with a typical mid-sized organisation quickly accumulating vast amounts of information. Trying to make sense of data and to search effectively forms a core part of this challenge. This paper aims to demonstrate that information providers and information finders must work hand-in-hand to achieve a 'Fit', leading to successful information finding by one of four categories of roles that finders assume. It is proposed that this 'Fit' can be achieved by combining a few or more of the following means: 1) taxonomy-based presentation/classification; 2) multiple views of the taxonomy; 3) personalisation; 4) usage of cues; and 5) usage of semantics. A search from the internet would also benefit from 6) localisation and 7) specialty search. Improved search and navigation arising from the Fit should enhance the efficacy of knowledge management in an organisation.