A unified architecture to establish knowledge network

A unified architecture is proposed for the new emerging concept of knowledge networks. This architecture is based on a multi-aspect view to the problem of establishing such a network in organizations. By integrating infrastructure, knowledge and business layers mounted on two aspects of human-based and organizational supportive conditions in a unified framework, we proposed a novel architecture that contains intra-layer built-in assessment mechanisms as well. These assessment mechanisms ensure the gradual refinement of the network as the structure of each layer becomes fixed. In this paper, it has been discussed that how a multi-layer architecture with minimum amount of dependency among layers (that has the ability of interaction in business and knowledge layers) may facilitate knowledge management processes. It can also give some guidelines on how to establish such networks in inter-organization level. In order to demonstrate the applicability of this architecture, in the last section of the paper, we have shown that how the development guidelines of the common KM sub-systems -here a Document Management System- based on one of the most creditable standards of this domain -here ISO 15489- can be extracted in a straightforward manner through employing the proposed architecture of the paper with specific emphasis on the independencies among layers and the proposed self-assessment mechanisms.