Body of Knowledge

Bodies of Knowledge

From **Risk Engineering/Civil Engineering**

Basic Considerations

A **body of knowledge (BoK)** is the accepted **ontology** for a specific domain. A BoK is more than simply a:

• Collection of terms
• Professional reading list
• Library or website
• Collection of information

Instead, a BoK represents **consensus knowledge** that defines and organizes a profession's **understanding of itself** and its **role in the global economy**. Additionally, these knowledge bodies allow **technical and lay personnel** to access structured knowledge through a **taxonomy** such as Bloom’s.

1. 1. 1. **Engineering Knowledge**

Unlike general knowledge, **engineering knowledge** is a specialized form of knowledge. Knowledge, in the broadest sense, can be defined as:

"...a fluid mix of framed experience, values, contextual information, and expert insight that provides a framework for evaluating and incorporating new experiences and information."

In non-discipline cases, knowledge can be communicated through **documentation**. However, in fields like **civil engineering**, knowledge is embedded in **documents, repositories, organizational activities, processes, goodwill, and workflows**.

Logical Framework

(Section under construction)

Regulatory Framework

(Section under construction)

Practice Frameworks (Under Construction)

Several institutions have developed **bodies of knowledge** that define engineering and technical disciplines.

1. 1. 1. **Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Computer Society**

The IEEE established **SWEBOK** to provide:

"(A) consensually validated characterization of the bounds of the software engineering discipline and to provide topical access to the Body of Knowledge supporting that discipline. The descriptions of the Knowledge Areas (KA) are designed to discriminate among the various important concepts, permitting readers to find their way quickly to subjects of interest."

1. 1. 1. **American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) BoK**

(Details under construction)

1. 1. 1. **National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) Engineering Body of Knowledge (BoK)**

The **NSPE BoK** defines the **depth and breadth of knowledge, skills, and attitudes** required for **entry into professional engineering practice**:

"A profession’s BoK is its common intellectual ground—it is shared by everyone in the profession regardless of employment or engineering discipline."

Capabilities within the **NSPE BoK** are learned through a **combination of education and experience** and define **professional competency**.

1. 1. 1. **PMIBoK (Project Management Institute)**

The **PMI Body of Knowledge (PMIBoK)** defines:

“The sum of knowledge, published and unpublished, within the profession of project management. It consists of proven, traditional practices that are widely applied and innovative, yet evolving.”

The **PMIBoK Guide** identifies: 1. **Generally recognized practices** applicable to most projects. 2. **Good practices** that enhance success rates. 3. **Adaptable approaches** where practices should not be applied rigidly to all projects.

1. 1. 1. **ISO**

(Section under construction)

Limitations of the Definition

This **body of knowledge** represents a **distilled version** of the overall knowledge in engineering. Unlike **best practices**, PMI now refers to "good practices" to reflect the **evolutionary nature** of the profession.

Working Definition of the Term

(Section under construction)

Beneficial Outcomes

Some of the **beneficial outcomes** of developing BoKs include:

• Achieving a **consistent national or global standard** for a profession.
• Establishing **disciplinary boundaries** between professions.
• Defining **policy or regulatory constraints** regarding professional responsibilities.

See Also

• Wiki article on Body of Knowledge