Sir Francis Bacon originated the aphorism “Knowledge is power.” (Actually he said, “nam et ipsa scientia potestas est”….)
How powerful?
The 9/11 Report points out:
Agencies uphold a “need-to-know” culture of information protection rather than promoting a “need-to-share” culture of integration. (page 417)
Fast forward seven years and we find:
[Information Sharing Environment – ISE] Gaps exist in….(3) determining the results to be achieved by the ISE (that is, how information sharing is improved) along with associated milestones, performance measures, and the individual projects. (Information Sharing [2008]
Seven years later and there are gaps in “how information sharing is improved…..”?
The power of not sharing knowledge is powerful enough to maintain data silos even in the face of national peril.
Topic maps can help you breach any silo you can access. Make that access meaningful and effective.
Not just national security data silos. Take mapping data silos of a regulated industry, say financial institutions. A mapping that grows with every audit/investigation.
Your choices are: 1) Wait for someone to relinquish power, or 2) Increase your power by breaching their data silo. Which one is for you?