This paper explores the curious domination of the data-information-knowledge hierarchical model in the knowledge management context. Knowledge management is about a cluster of activities that take place in organizations aimed at better decision-making and organizational processes. Why would a model of key terms derived from information theory be dominant in an organizationally defined activity? We trace the history of this dominant model, show why it is not the appropriate approach to the core issues of knowledge management and then consider possible explanations as to why it became dominant in order to be able to frame future empirical research among practitioners.

Solo is a portable window interface written in the Common Lisp Object System (CLOS) object-oriented programming language. Solo provides a virtual window machine which is targeted to a host window system by implementing a set of host window system specific classes and methods for Solo's host window system driver protocol. The interface presented by Solo to an application insulates it from differences in the host window system, facilitating application portability. Solo distinguishes itself from other object-oriented window systems by exploiting certain features of CLOS. CLOS method combination simplifies initialization of windows while preserving easy extensibility of the basic classes. Generic dispatch on multiple arguments, a feature unique to CLOS, allows a simpler and more flexible input event dispatching protocol. A powerful event description language simplifies the specification of keyboard and mouse events. A prototype implementation runs on the server based XII and NeWS host systems, and on the frame buffer based Lucid Window Toolkit.