Doing a search in Aikona Knowledge Base is easy. Simply type one or more search terms (the words or phrase that best describe the information you want to find) into the search box and hit the 'Go >' button.

In response, the Knowledge Base produces a results page: a list of references related to your search terms, with the most relevant appearing first, then the next, and so on.

Here are some basic tips to help you maximize the effectiveness of your search:

• Choosing search terms
• Phrase searches
• Selecting the right component
• Capitalisation
• Automatic "and" queries.

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Choosing search terms
Choosing the right search terms is the key to finding the information you need.

Start with the obvious ? if you're looking for general information on Risk, try Risk.


But it's often advisable to use multiple search terms; if you're looking to start a Risk register in a PRINCE environment, you'll do better with PRINCE2 Risk than with either PRINCE2 or Risk by themselves. And PRINCE2 risk register may produce even better results.


Choose your search terms carefully; Knowledge Base will search against each term you have stated and list all combinations!. Phrase Searches (see below) will narrow the results to an exact match.

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Phrase searches
Sometimes you'll only want results that include an exact phrase. In this case, simply put quotation marks around your search terms.


Phrase searches are particularly effective if you're searching for proper names.

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Selecting the right component
The Knowledge Base Resource Centre comprises a number of components. Simply checking the box associated with a particular component will reduce your search.

The components are:

• Articles
  Over 15 years of articles from Project Manager Today and other leading industry magazines
• Topic Library
  A unique library of over 100 topics that can be studied individually or combined together as an 'off the shelf' or tailored course
• Case Studies
  First hand accounts of other peoples experiences working on projects and programmes
• Technical Papers
  Technical papers investigate slightly more academic or industry specific matters that will broaden the understanding of the issue.
• Templates
  Many standards define particular structures for documentation. Aikona Academy templates provide Microsoft Office forms for the documents with integral explanation, hints and tips.

For example if you are have been asked to complete a Business case for the first time you may want to first learn more on what it is and why it is required. In this instance you would select the Learning Topics component and then search Business Case.


Once familiar with the subject you may then want to see if there is a template for a Business Case. Again, simply check the relevant component and perform your search.


If you wanted to find everything and anything associated with Business Case you would select the All option.


The Knowledge Base search allows you to mix the components when searching. For example if you wanted to find both the Learning Topic that covers Business Case and any Templates you would select both components and perform your search.

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Capitalisation
Knowledge Base searches are NOT case sensitive. All letters, regardless of how you type them, will be understood as lower case. For example, searches for prince2, Prince2, and PrInCe2 will all return the same results.

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Automatic "and" queries
By default, Knowledge Base search only returns pages that include all of your search terms. There is no need to include "and" between terms. Keep in mind that the order in which the terms are typed will affect the search results. To restrict a search further, just include more terms.