Expert systems at stage IV of the knowledge management technology stage model: The case of police investigations

The ambition level using knowledge management systems can be defined in terms of stages of knowledge management technology. Stage I is labelled end-user-tool systems or person-to-technology, as information technology provides people with tools that improve personal efficiency. Examples are word processing, spreadsheets, and presentation software. Stage II is labelled who-knows-what systems or person-to-person, as people use information technology to find other knowledge workers. Examples are yellow-page systems, CVs and intranets. Stage III is labelled what-they-know systems or person-to-information, as information technology provides people with access to information that is typically stored in documents. Examples of documents are contracts, articles, drawings, blueprints, photographs, emails, presentations and reports. Stage IV is labelled how-they-think systems or person-to-system, in which the system is intended to help solve a knowledge problem. Examples are expert systems and business intelligence. This paper documents some of the links between police investigations and knowledge management systems using the stages of growth model for knowledge management technology.