Issues for an Ontology for Knowledge Valuation

This paper examines the application of inference- supporting ontologies to the issue of knowledge valuation. Knowledge, like customer goodwill or a brand, is an intangible asset for a firm; that is, a non-physical, non- financial claim to future wealth. Intangibles are notoriously difficult to value, but there are a number of reasons why we should try. A series of factors affecting the value of knowledge are discussed, and an ontology that could be used to express some of these is sketched. Such an ontology could be imported by e-business models, to help understand how an organisation's knowledge adds value to its operations, and therefore to enable informed management of its knowledge assets.