This paper focuses on an aspect which has been neglected, but which is decisive: The transfer of knowledge to different stakeholders; especially the transfer of insights derived from information visualization tools. In knowledge management the transfer of knowledge is a core process, which can be improved by using our innate abilities to process visual representations. The potential of visualizations are manifold. But business managers miss a holistic framework on the use of visualization methods for information exploration and communication tasks. This paper analyzes how architects use visualizations to amplify cognition and to transfer knowledge. It introduces a mediating framework that brings together isolated research directions and defines the new research focus knowledge visualization. Knowledge visualization examines the use of visualizations for the transfer of knowledge between at least two peoples. We found that the new focus is decisive and has implications for researchers in information visualization and knowledge management.

This paper defined knowledge visualization and explained the difference between the research areas knowledge visualization and information visualization. In contrast to information visualization, which exploits our innate abilities to effectively process visual representation to explore information, knowledge visualization uses these abilities to improve the transfer of knowledge between at least two persons or group of persons. To mediate between different research areas this paper introduced a knowledge visualization framework. This framework aims to systemize research, to identify research gaps and to mediate between researchers from different fields. The framework is based on three perspectives: A Knowledge Type, a Recipient Type and a Visualization Type Perspective. While the first two taxonomies are established, the visualization type perspective is new. We deduced this taxonomy by analyzing how architects use different complementary visualization types to transfer knowledge. This taxonomy is promising both for researchers and practitioners.