Knowledge creation and sharing: a role for paraconsistent logic

Recent research and practice have led to the development of relatively complex methods for inquiry which can be applied by human analysts wishing to investigate an organizational problem-space. However, it has appeared until recently that use of these methods could not be supported by software tools, since the limitations of traditional mathematical algorithms constrained their development. In consequence, managers may have been deterred, through pressure of time, from utilising methods which could yield deeper and richer understandings of the internal and external contexts of strategic intelligence. In this chapter, the authors outline one example of a complex method for inquiry. We discuss foundations for development of software support, based on a paraconsistent approach (see Bednar, et al, 2005). This could, we believe, be used to develop a new generation of decision support system which could make complex methods for inquiry accessible to managers in situations where protracted investigations would be ruled out by pressure of time.