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466 Glossary

Digital library A collection of a very large number of digital objects, composed of all types of
material and media, that are stored in distributed information repositories and accessed through
national computer networks. Digital libraries can include reference material or resources acces-
sible through the World Wide Web. Digitized portions of a library ’ s collection or original material
produced for the web can also be included in a digital library.
Environment Those variables whose changes affect the system and that are in turn affected by
the system ’ s behavior. Things outside a system that are important to it. Understanding the sys-
tem ’ s behavior usually requires some understanding of its context or environment.
Epistemology The scientifi c study of knowledge. Knowledge science.

EPSS Any computer software program or component that improves employee performance by
reducing the complexity or number of steps required to perform a task, providing the perfor-
mance information an employee needs to perform a task, or providing a decision support system
that enables an employee to identify the action that is appropriate for a particular set of
conditions.
Ethics The “ science of morality. ” In philosophy, ethical behavior is that which is “ good. ” The
philosophical study of the moral value of human conduct and of the rules and principles that
ought to govern it; moral philosophy. A social, religious, or civil code of behavior considered
correct, especially that of a particular group, profession, or individual. The moral fi tness of a
decision, course of action, and so on.
Expectation Belief about (or mental picture of) the future. The anticipation of what is to happen
next (e.g., curiosity and suspense), what a character is like, or how he or she will develop, what
the theme or meaning of the story will prove to be, and so on.
Expertise locator system See Corporate yellow pages

Explicit knowledge Knowledge that has been rendered visible (usually through transcription
into a document or an audio/visual recording); typically, captured and codifi ed knowledge.
Expressive culture Refl ects emotions, feelings, and aspirations of the organizations ’
personnel.
Externalization The conversion of tacit knowledge into explicit knowledge — rendering previ-
ously unarticulated, undocumented, and uncaptured content into a visible, tangible, and con-
crete form (e.g., recording a meeting, writing up minutes of a meeting).

Facilitation A collaborative process used to help parties discuss issues, identify and achieve goals,
and complete tasks in a mutually satisfactory manner. This process uses an impartial third party,
the facilitator, who focuses on the processes and procedures of dispute resolution and decision
making. The facilitator is impartial to the issues being discussed, rarely contributes substantive
ideas, and has no decision-making authority.
Federalism An organizational political model where information/knowledge management is
approached using negotiation processes to reach a consensus.