Adjudicating an ill-defined problem from a system development/project management perspective: utilizing a knowledge management overlay model

Organizations have long struggled with the successful completion of projects within the time, cost and performance indicators with respect to a customer product or solution that is expected to ultimately meet the customer’s expectations. This thesis demonstrates the link between the successful creation, management and dissemination of project requirements throughout the entire project process using a knowledge management overlay model to ensure the success of the overall project to meet stakeholder needs through the successful creation and transfer of project requirements. <br><br>The knowledge management overlay model was developed to support the requirements management domain and is the foundation for this research. The knowledge management overlay model is based on the premise that there is a clear need to successfully create, and then transfer the information within a requirement from person to person, team to team, as well as from organization to organization without the loss, distortion or deformation of that content within a project management or system development process. As well, the original ill-defined problem that evolves into a requirement needs to be resolved correctly and accurately at the beginning of a project and is also considered the very underpinning of the requirement process. The goal of the knowledge management overly model is to ensure a clear and concise creation and transfer of requirements knowledge from inception of the business requirements to the functional product that is presented to the end user and the ability to maintain the fundamental traits and characteristics of the requirements that can get lost during the transfer of knowledge. Once implemented within the project teams and the project management process, the knowledge transfer model will reduce and or eliminate the alteration of content that might otherwise lead to scope creep and substantial re-work as focus is lost on the project vision and objectives. The model will enhance the enablers of successful knowledge transfer and remove the barriers to successful knowledge transfer ultimately increasing project success.