Meta data, as defined in Part I, are essentially the building blocks for knowledge organization. To use meta data effectively, organizations must create a knowledge map to ensure everyone is using the same terminology.
A knowledge map is often represented by a taxonomy. The word taxonomy has Greek origins, deriving from 'taxis' meaning arrangement and 'onoma' meaning name. Taxonomies facilitate the structuring and labeling of meta data. Returning to our organizational meta data example in the previous posting, an organizational taxonomy would define the Cook County School District, both by its hierarchial structure, as well as its names. The taxonomy would define the Human Resources Department as well as the Classroom Services Division and the six other divisions it oversees.
Establishing common taxonomies in existing organizations can frequently become messy political battles. Implicit relationships and process ownership become explicit in the definition of taxonomies. For political reasons, what may often make sense logically, that professional development is planned by the Human Resources Department, may sometimes not be the case. For this reason, many organizations define two taxonomies - a hierarchical taxonomy based on departmental structure of the organization and a functional taxonomy defining the key functions of the organization.
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