ExpertFinder 2fEFW2007 2fSlot5 5fInterestVsCompetence

From FOAF

Responsible to report: TerezaIofciu

This group discussed the difficulties to determine real competence just from published metadata. Ranking mechanisms are necessary rather than simply trusting self-advertisements which might simply mean only interest in a topic than real expertise.

nterests vs. Competencies or vague like interests vb lot of knowledge, competencies

We considered interests to be more related to hobbies, leisure activities and competencies to work and skills. Both concepts require a degree of knowledge.

We consider a competency reflects the ability of a person to do something. Competencies consist of knowledge (proved through facts) and a domain match, they have to be defined by the users past completed activities. Competencies could also be proved by active roles on in realizing project objectives.

Means for rating a person's knowledge on a topic:

* analysis of blog style
* in link analysis, citations
* rate the “types” of documents
* a person's perceived foaf interest expressed in the foaf files of others
* timestamps record

Documents types to rate:

* forum discussions
* blog posts / domain blogs
* chats.. difficult
* academic papers
* newspapers
* ...

Not everything needs an expert. There is a thin line between simple information retrieval and possible competencies. Sometimes one can read the manual or search the web – information need.

When are experts needed: at hiring, when asking about specific tasks or for advice, in team building. One also needs an expert when one doesn't know what to ask for when searching, can't formulate her request or when a problem pops up that was dealt with in the past but it had a different name.