What is KWS?

KWS is...

...a methodology that optimizes human interfaces with the business process.

...a tool kit that integrates processes and software applications to execute work.

...a mechanism to capture institutional knowledge, promote productivity and improve quality

The U.S. Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratories (USACERL) designed and developed the Knowledge Worker system (KWS) to help knowledge workers capture and organize activity information, and to learn, prioritize, and execute knowledge worker tasks more efficiently and effectivvely.

The Knowledge Worker System will enable the Army to continue its mission critical business process while meeting its downsizing goals. KWS provides the following major benefits.

• Improvements in Efficiency: The same work can be accomplished in less time.
• Improvements in Effectiveness: An increase in intellectual specialization within an organization.
• Improvement in Focus: More time is devoted to the primary mission/function of the organization.
• Work Elimination: Eliminates the need for some tasks or accomplishes them automatically.
• Less Rework: Reduces the amount of work that must be done.

• Fewer people and dollars available to complete work
• Loss of institutional knowledge
• Inconsistent decision quality
• Undocumented business processes
• Productivity and technology investments are not in step

KWS is a performance supported environment that integrates new methods and technologies from the information management, workflow, work scheduling, software agent, and work measurement disciplines into a performance support environment for knowledge workers. KWS enhances knowledge worker productivity by delivering task specific information as needed, and by associating all automated tools, software agents, and multimedia document references that a knowledge worker needs to complete a specific task.

KWS is a groupware product, designed for use by collaborative workgroups. a master calendar links interdependent knowledge worker tasks. A knowledge worker can assign tasks to herself or himself, to other knowledge workers, or to a group of knowledge workers. KWS improves workgroup coordination by allowing knowledge workers to retreive and update milestone, task completion and priority status information.

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