POWER: programme for an ontology based working environment for modeling and use of regulations and legislation

The Dutch Tax and Customs Administration (DCTA) conducted a research programme in which methods were developed that support a systematic translation of (new) legislation into the DTCA´s processes. In the POWER programme, the knowledge capitalization/knowledge codification approach is combined with an organization dynamics approach in which the DTCA´s knowledge processes are aligned. As a result, the DTCA will be able to improve the quality of law enforcement and decrease the time needed for implementing changes in legislation and regulations. We think that the POWER method can be applied in many other governmental situations and perhaps even in non-government organizations where regulations play an important role (e.g. process industries, assurance companies etc.).