How to Use This Book

In spite of the hyperlinked, Weblike world we live in, I highly recommend that you go against that notion and read this book in a linear fashion: Begin with Chapter 1 and continue through Chapter 4. Once you reach Chapter 4, if you have a strong reason to jump to any other chapter, do so. Chapters 5 through 14 make the most sense if you read them after you've read Chapter 4. The reason for this recommendation is simple: Each of Chapters 5 through 14 represent one step of the 10-step roadmap that I introduce in Chapter 4. The 10-step roadmap appears at the beginning of each of Chapters 5 through 14, with details of the current step highlighted in the respective chapters. As with any roadmap, this serves the purpose of a "you are here" sign. The accompanying CD-ROM includes an interactive version of the road map and customizable analysis forms that appear throughout this book. Every chapter but Chapter 1 ends with a "Lessons Learned" section that summarizes the key points covered in that chapter. This might be useful as a checklist when this book is not gathering dust on your bookshelf.

Chapter 16 discusses software tools that might be relevant to your own knowledge management system. Some of these are also included on the companion CD-ROM. Most, though not all, tools on the CD-ROM have feature restrictions of some type. They are there not to give you entire software suites to help you cut down the expense of building a knowledge management system or to charge you an extra five dollars for a CD-ROM that cost only 50 cents to produce. These tools are here because I believe that they add value and help you make better sense. They are here for you to actually be able to see the technologies that we talk about in the chapters that follow.