Essentials of Knowledge Management

5.16. Infrastructure

All of the above technologies—and all of their potential business advantages—assume some form of information infrastructure, which minimally involves a computer platform or image-capture hardware of some type, from desktop PCs, to laptops, hand-helds, and cell phones. The infrastructure also includes the information storage media, from magnetic tape and floppy disks to hard drives, CD-ROMs, and DVDs. These infrastructure technologies can either add to or take away from the bottom line, depending on how they are implemented and the synergies that exist between infrastructure and the technologies it supports.

Groupware relies on a high-speed network connection among knowledge workers and between knowledge workers and computer systems. The network can take the form of the Internet and the web, intranets, and internets, including their associated cables, servers, and network operating system software, and browsers. Wireless systems obviate the need for cables but introduce additional issues, such as the need for increased security.

The security infrastructure may include the use of biometrics and other authentication systems, encryption, use tracking, and digital rights management software to verify that copyright holders' rights haven't been violated. With the melding of voice and data in most of corporate America, the telecommunications infrastructure is taking on increasing significance in supporting traditional phone and teleconferencing.