Gathering Information in the Digital Age Using the Semantic Web

As business decisions become more critical and the data upon which they are based becomes more readily available, the need to access information quickly and to store it in a usable system becomes paramount. In attempting to access and store the data and information, companies are using techniques like competitive intelligence and knowledge management systems. This has given rise to more investigation into the use of the semantic web. The combination of Competitive Intelligence, Knowledge Management and the Semantic Web offers the best alternative for success in this very competitive environment. This paper outlines the relationships between knowledge management, competitive intelligence and decision making, and defines some of the many types of tools used to improve the semantic web. It also illustrates how the semantic web can augment the search process for the data that enhances the decision-making process at all levels of an organization and for the various types of decisions that need to be made.