People-focused knowledge management

mental reference models. Mental models appear to exist at different
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Mental and Structural Reference Models
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levels of abstraction and maturity. Some refer directly to experiences
with past situations and only consist of encoded sensory data and may
be located in episodic memory. Generally, such episodic models are
characterizations of scenes, events, or other observations, and what
they mean has not been interpreted. That is, features, mechanisms,
principles, and implications or consequences inherent in episodic
experiences have not been extracted, reflected upon, or thought
through; therefore, what we may understand from these episodes has
not been derived or be available in our minds. Alongside with the
levels of abstractions for mental models that we discussed in Chapter
3, people also appear to build conceptual hierarchies for reference
models. When we observe how people apply and use their mental ref-
erence models, we can observe that the models provide behavioral
guidance on four conceptual levels as indicated in Figure 4-1.
Other mental models whose meanings have been interpreted may
reside in whole or in part in semantic or procedural memories. Their
meanings are internalized and have to some extent been integrated
with other mental objects after conscious or nonconscious analysis
and interpretation to create understandings. We tend to analyze and
mull over the meanings of mental models that are interesting or
notable in some manner such as methodological models and models
of educational stories.
Governing Principles Model
Ethical and Judgmental Consideration 
Values, Goals, Expectations
General Approach Model
General Behavioral Conduct
Gestalt of Approach (Schemata)