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New Lotus package lets users organize their daily work while streamlining group communications
DESPITE ALL the communications technology that most organizations use, a good deal of corporate knowledge still gets passed around the traditional way: by chance. If workers happen to see each other in the hallway, they might exchange a few words - but if not, they won't. Clearly it's not wise to entrust your enterprise's future to such an informal and unpredictable arrangement. So how do you let your employees reliably unearth specific facts from mountains of information stored inside the enterprise, within an extranet, or on the Internet?
Portal technology is one solution. Unfortunately, many first-generation portal products merely permit users to view information through dissimilar interfaces and thirdparty services. In contrast, Lotus' new K-station 1.0 knowledge management tool offers a single gateway to a range of knowledge repositories. By providing a consistent way to access disparate resources, you can improve the chance of knowledge workers finding desired data. No more time is wasted switching between applications or learning how to use unfamiliar interfaces.
K-station further distinguishes itself by emphasizing the important role that people play in knowledge management projects. The product gives each user a customizable, personal workspace on which to arrange files, e-mail, Web sites, and other forms of information capital. The tool also features shared community places that provide similar customization options for online forums and file collection operations. Overall, K-station offers such an easy-to-implement and practical approach to knowledge management that we rewarded it with a score of...