Sharing relevant knowledge within product development

An Open Content (OC) repository that has a formal knowledge structure, but which allows users to share across organisational boundaries, could solve existing knowledge search problems. However, such a repository will still need to have boundaries set for its contents to stay relevant. Because users of the repository may author and edit the repository’s content, it is necessary to discuss which information is relevant to the intended field. A repository for Industrial Design Engineering serves as an example case. The authors propose a framework for discourse, based on descriptions of the field in terms of product areas, disciplines and design aspects.