Towards an information systems framework for dynamic organisational memory

Organisational memory information systems (OMIS) implement important aspects of organisational memory with the aim of enhancing organisational effectiveness. We propose a three layered framework for a dynamic OMIS. The framework consists of a pragmatic layer to support the actual activity; a conceptual layer to store the concepts (meta knowledge) inherent in that activity; and a process layer to store the experience of performing that activity. Both the conceptual and process layers represent organisational memory repositories in the form of respective models. The implementation of OMIS assumes that any activity is the instantiation of relevant conceptual and process models and includes the reuse of knowledge stored in association with those models. In this way organisational memory is always mapped to current activity, its adequacy constantly evaluated. This provides the potential for the models to evolve as a direct result of the current activity. A partial implementation of this framework to support epidemiological research is illustrated