Technology Overview

Technically the software is based on a true service oriented architecture (SOA) where all logic is executed on the server side, and the knowledge worker desktop can therefore support mobile users as well as external access e.g. via portals.

The knowledge worker desktop consists of a software kernel combined with functionality to support domain specific knowledge processing.

Core functionality includes automated archiving, journalizing and records management, search across metadata and content, case processing and collaboration, control of work-in-progress and information status, communication (including e.g. email, chat and contacts), document ownership and distribution, full audit trail and logging, role based access control, integration to Microsoft (or similar) office functions as well as support for templates.

On top of the kernel, the knowledge worker desktop offers support for domain specific processes, which for the governmental users includes the earlier mentioned processes like “Hearing – review meeting” and “Submitted for review and approval”.

From a user perspective the knowledge worker desktop appears as a smart document archive that has been extended with functionality to support all relevant white collar work actions - search, editing, collaboration, email and document receipt and distribution, etc.

All messages and documents reside in the central archive and not on the individual desktops. All work actions are directly activated as part of the archive and will automatically establish an audit trail of all work actions as well as journalize and index all documents (including emails) for later search.

This is done automatically without any extra work by the knowledge worker thus eliminating much of today’s tedious and redundant work.

This establishes the foundation for achieving regulatory compliance for Sarbanes-Oxley, FRCP, HIPAA and other compliance issues depending on industry and country as well as reducing the burden AND cost of an eDiscovery request.

With the central archive being the starting point for all work elements the knowledge worker no longer need to consider or spend time on issues like journalizing of documents or email archiving.

All “registration and logging” of emails and documents have been automated and have from the knowledge workers point of view been eliminated, thus enabling the focus on the actual knowledge work.

This automation of the knowledge work process offers features like complete audit trail, automatic insertion of META data based on user and data context as well as indexing for search on words & phrases making a potential eDiscovery request a lot less costly.

For management, the knowledge worker desktop also works as a specialized business intelligence solution. The knowledge worker desktop offers online/real-time information about work-in-progress as well as production history. This will serve as input for change of load/work balancing between organizational units as well as provide productivity and quality measurements.

This adds a new dimension to case management. It is expected that features like real-time mobile access to urgent cases as well as work-in-progress information will offer new working habits for the future governmental management.

This can directly improve the support of minister and permanent secretary. Likewise, the knowledge worker desktop will form the base for new types of citizen services including e.g. online self-service and online external access and insight into documents.