An IS for Archaeological Finds Management as a Platform for Knowledge Management: The ArcheoTRAC Case

Abstract

Purpose – The aim of this study is to describe the context, the activity, and the outcome of a project, which led to the creation of ArcheoTRAC, the first information system (IS) designed to run all the daily activities in archaeological finds management, to share information among the different professionals and to support in this way knowledge creation. Design/methodology/approach – The study focuses on the ArcheoTRAC system and on the project that contributed to its development. Since the authors of this paper have been involved in the project (one of them since its very beginning), an action research paradigm has been used to derive scientific knowledge out of the experience. Both organizational and technological aspects are investigated under the respective theoretical knowledge management perspectives. Findings – There were two effective choices in order to foster knowledge sharing in a context of a scarcity of interactions among professionals involved. Grouping representatives of possible users in the project contributed to create a mutual understanding of their interdependent and complementary needs and activities. Moreover, some system features of the ArcheoTRAC system (views, fields and thesauri customization, non-prescriptive workflows) were effective in letting each user adapt him/herself to the new system. Practical implications – The study sheds light on the characteristics of a system designed in order to maximize the information exploitation and sharing and, at the same time, to minimize the introduction impact, in a context denoted by manual processes, lack of habit of cooperation, and poor IT literacy. Originality/value – The study deals with an innovative IS that supports all activities performed by every professional involved in archaeological finds management. The study describes the architecture of this IS that has been designed to minimize impacts on professionals’ behaviour and maximize knowledge sharing.