Knowledge Management Framework for Evaluating Biomedical Information Systems: A Tool for Open Scholarship

Abstract

A socio‑technical Knowledge Management System (KMS) Framework for evaluating biomedical information systems that support open scholarship is proposed. The Framework spans nine knowledge lifecycle processes—discovery, creation, representation, classification, storage, retrieval, dissemination, transfer, and translation—and aligns them with people, process, technology, and content elements. Using an action research approach that combined expert interviews and literature reviews, the Framework is applied to three systems: Europe PMC, Epistemonikos, and ResearchGate. The evaluation identified exemplary components as well as recurring gaps, particularly in downstream knowledge transfer and translation, which are often overlooked by repository checklists. Findings show the Framework’s value as a comprehensive, transparent lens for comparing systems, diagnosing weaknesses, and prioritizing enhancements across the full knowledge lifecycle. By making strengths and omissions explicit at the socio‑technical level, the KMS Framework guides improvements to biomedical information systems in service of more effective open scholarship.