Knowledge Artifact Taxonomy

Status: Working draft

Framework

Purpose: Guide structured reasoning.

Produces: A reusable reasoning structure.

Common failure mode: Confused with a methodology, checklist, or notation.

Model

Purpose: Represent some aspect of reality.

Produces: An abstraction.

Failure mode: Mistaking the model for reality.

Methodology

Purpose: Describe how work is performed.

Produces: Repeatable practice.

Failure mode: Dogmatism or ritualized use.

Process

Purpose: Sequence work.

Produces: Flow.

Failure mode: Optimizing compliance over outcomes.

Taxonomy

Purpose: Organize things into categories.

Produces: Classification.

Failure mode: Inferring relationships not actually present.

Ontology

Purpose: Define concepts and relationships.

Produces: Semantic structure.

Failure mode: Over-specification.

Standard

Purpose: Establish consistency or conformance.

Produces: Rules or requirements.

Failure mode: Stifling judgment or innovation.

Notation

Purpose: Represent information.

Produces: Syntax.

Failure mode: Confusing representation with meaning.

Pattern

Purpose: Capture recurring successful solutions.

Produces: Reusable guidance.

Failure mode: Cargo cult application.

Reference Architecture

Purpose: Provide reusable structural guidance.

Produces: Architecture model.

Failure mode: Overgeneralization.

Tool

Purpose: Perform or assist work.

Produces: Execution support.

Failure mode: Tool mistaken for the method.