Travels in ‘I-Space’: The Diffusion of Disaster Management Knowledge

Max Boisot (1995; 1998) has conceptualised learning in ‘organizations, institutions and culture’ as the diffusion of knowledge within a space defined by three-dimensions: codification, abstraction and diffusion. The paper applies Boisot’s ‘I-Space’ to the diffusion of knowledge about disaster management. In particular, we analyze the role of an authoring environment intended to assist the design of disaster training exercises. A cooperative evaluation of the authoring environment is reported and interpreted as a journey through one region of I-space. Conclusions are offered on the utility of the I-Space concept for disaster management training.