Eprinet: Leveraging Knowledge in the Electric Utility Industry

This article describes the use of information technology to leverage knowledge-knowledge in the form of pioneering research and development work in the electric utility industry, managed by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). EPRI is the R&D consortium for the U.S. electric utility industry. In 1984, EPRI embarked on building EPRINET, a state-of-the-art electronic communication and delivery system. This effort coincided with EPRI expanding its mission to encompass not only management of R&D projects but also delivery of its information and expertise. This article describes the lessons that EPRI has learned about managing such a large systems effort while the organization is in the midst of making cultural changes.