Compendium (software)
Encyclopedia
Compendium is a computer program and social science tool that facilitates the mapping and management of ideas and arguments. The software provides a visual environment that allows people to structure and record collaboration as they work through "wicked problem
s". The software is currently released by the not-for-profit Compendium Institute. The current version operationalises the Issue-Based Information System
(IBIS), an argumentation mapping structure first developed by Horst Rittel
in the 1970s.
Compendium source code was fully released under LGPL licence on 13 January 2009.
The creation of "issue maps" graphically represents the relations between issues and questions and facilitates the understanding of interconnected topics through pictoral representation.
It can be used by a group of people in a collaborative manner to convey ideas to each other using visual images.
) was first conceptualized by Horst Rittel
and Jeff Conklin. It
is a fairly modern example of a personal knowledge base
.
Many associations have thence contributed ideas to the development of Compendium. These institutions include Blue Oxen Associates, Center for Creative Leadership, Knowledge Media Institute - Open University
, Verizon, CogNexus Institute, and Agent iSolutions.
Wicked problem
"Wicked problem" is a phrase originally used in social planning to describe a problem that is difficult or impossible to solve because of incomplete, contradictory, and changing requirements that are often difficult to recognize. Moreover, because of complex interdependencies, the effort to solve...
s". The software is currently released by the not-for-profit Compendium Institute. The current version operationalises the Issue-Based Information System
Issue-Based Information System
Issue-Based Information System was invented by Werner Kunz and Horst Rittel as an argumentation-based approach to tackling wicked problems - complex, ill-defined problems that involve multiple stakeholders....
(IBIS), an argumentation mapping structure first developed by Horst Rittel
Horst Rittel
Horst Willhelm Jakob Rittel was a German-born design theorist and university professor. He is best-known Horst Willhelm Jakob Rittel (* 14 July 1930 in Berlin, † 9 July 1990 in Heidelberg) was a German-born design theorist and university professor. He is best-known Horst Willhelm Jakob Rittel (*...
in the 1970s.
Compendium source code was fully released under LGPL licence on 13 January 2009.
Applications
Compendium visually represents thoughts and illustrates the various interconnections between different ideas and arguments.The creation of "issue maps" graphically represents the relations between issues and questions and facilitates the understanding of interconnected topics through pictoral representation.
It can be used by a group of people in a collaborative manner to convey ideas to each other using visual images.
Features
- Drag and drop documents and websites onto a map
- Complete freedom to arrange icons
- Keyword tagging
- Map and label the connections between concepts to illustrate links
- Create 'Dialogue Maps' to display links to everyone’s ideas in group projects
- Create 'Argument Maps' to work collaboratively, editing each other's writing
- Share learning pathways
- Organise large amounts of information
- Place resources in sequence to develop a learning path
- Publish maps
History
Compendium is the result of fifteen years of development in collaborative modelling, however the theory behind the software hails from the seventies, when IBIS (Issue-Based Information SystemIssue-Based Information System
Issue-Based Information System was invented by Werner Kunz and Horst Rittel as an argumentation-based approach to tackling wicked problems - complex, ill-defined problems that involve multiple stakeholders....
) was first conceptualized by Horst Rittel
Horst Rittel
Horst Willhelm Jakob Rittel was a German-born design theorist and university professor. He is best-known Horst Willhelm Jakob Rittel (* 14 July 1930 in Berlin, † 9 July 1990 in Heidelberg) was a German-born design theorist and university professor. He is best-known Horst Willhelm Jakob Rittel (*...
and Jeff Conklin. It
is a fairly modern example of a personal knowledge base
Personal knowledge base
A personal knowledge base is an electronic tool used to express, capture, and later retrieve the personal knowledgeof an individual. It differs from a traditionaldatabase in that it contains subjective material particular to the owner,...
.
Many associations have thence contributed ideas to the development of Compendium. These institutions include Blue Oxen Associates, Center for Creative Leadership, Knowledge Media Institute - Open University
Open University
The Open University is a distance learning and research university founded by Royal Charter in the United Kingdom...
, Verizon, CogNexus Institute, and Agent iSolutions.