Tacit knowledge

Tacit knowledgeorimplicit knowledge—as opposed to formalized, codified orexplicit knowledge—isknowledgethat is difficult to express or extract; therefore it is more difficult to transfer to others by means of writing it down or verbalizing it. This can includemotor skills,personalwisdom,experience,insight,andintuition.^[1]

For example, knowing that London is in the United Kingdom is a piece ofexplicitknowledge; it can be written down, transmitted, and understood by a recipient. In contrast, the ability to speak a language, ride a bicycle, knead dough, play a musical instrument, or design and use complex equipment requires all sorts of knowledge which is not always knownexplicitly,even by expert practitioners, and which is difficult or impossible to explicitlytransferto other people.

Overview

Origin

The termtacit knowingis attributed toMichael Polanyi'sPersonal Knowledge(1958).^[2]In his later work,The Tacit Dimension(1966), Polanyi made the assertion that "we can know more than we can tell."^[3]He states not only that there is knowledge that cannot be adequately articulated byverbalmeans, but also that all knowledge is rooted in tacit knowledge. While this concept made most of its impact onphilosophy of science,educationandknowledge management—all fields involving humans—it was also, for Polanyi, a means to show humankind's evolutionary continuity with animals. Polanyi describes that many animals are creative, some even havemental representations,but can only possess tacit knowledge.^[4]This excludes humans, however, who developed the capability of articulation and therefore can transmit partially explicit knowledge. This relatively modest difference then turns into a big practical advantage, but there is no unexplained evolutionary gap.

Definition

Tacit knowledgecan be defined as skills, ideas and experiences that are possessed by people but are not codified and may not necessarily be easily expressed.^[5]With tacit knowledge, people are not often aware of the knowledge they possess or how it can be valuable to others. Effective transfer of tacit knowledge generally requires extensive personal contact, regular interaction,^[6]and trust. This kind of knowledge can only be revealed through practice in a particular context and transmitted throughsocial networks.^[7]To some extent it is "captured"when the knowledge holder joins a network or acommunity of practice.^[6]

Some examples of daily activities and tacit knowledge are: riding a bike, playing the piano, driving a car, hitting a nail with a hammer,^[8]putting together pieces of a complex jigsaw puzzle, and interpreting a complex statistical equation.^[5]

In the field ofknowledge management,the concept of tacit knowledge refers to knowledge that cannot be fullycodified.An individual can acquire tacit knowledge without language.Apprentices,for example, work with theirmentorsand learn craftsmanship not only through language but also byobservation,imitation, and practice.

The key to acquiring tacit knowledge isexperience.Without some form of shared experience, it is extremely difficult for people to share each other'sthinking processes.^[9]

Terrain

Tacit knowledge can be divided according to the terrain. Terrains affect the process of changing tacit knowledge into explicit knowledge. Terrains are of three kinds:

Relational tacit knowledge:Relational tacit knowledge could be made explicit, but not made explicit for reasons that touch on deep principles that have to do with either the nature or location of knowledge of the way humans are made.
Somatic tacit knowledge:Somatic tacit knowledge has to do with properties of individuals bodies and brains as physical things. In principle it is possible for it to be explicated as the outcome of research done by human scientists.
Collective tacit knowledge:Collective tacit knowledge is a kind of knowledge that we do not know how to make explicit and that we cannot envisage how to explicate. It is the domain of knowledge that is located in society - it has to do with the way society is constituted.^[10]

Embodied knowledge

Tacit knowledge has been described as “know-how”as opposed to “know-what” (facts).^[1]This distinction between “know-how” and “know-what” is considered to date back to a 1945 paper byGilbert Rylegiven to theAristotelian Societyin London.^[11]In his paper, Ryle argues against the (intellectualist) position that all knowledge is knowledge ofPropositions( “know-what” ), and therefore the view that some knowledge can only be defined as “know-how”. Ryle's argument has, in some contexts, come to be called "anti-intellectualist".There are further distinctions such as" know-why "(science) or" know-who "(networking).^{[citation needed]}

Tacit knowledge involves learning and skill but not in a way that can be written down. On this account, knowing-how or “embodied knowledge” is characteristic of the expert, who acts, makes judgments, and so forth without explicitly reflecting on the principles or rules involved. The expert works without having a theory of his or her work; he or she just performs skillfully without deliberation or focused attention.^[7]Embodied knowledge represents a learned capability of a human body'snervousandendocrine systems.^[12]

Differences from explicit knowledge

Although it is possible to distinguish conceptually betweenexplicitand tacit knowledge, they are not separate and discrete in practice.^[9]The interaction between these two modes of knowing is vital for the creation of new knowledge.^[13]

Tacit knowledge can be distinguished from explicit knowledge in three major areas:^[2]

Codifiability and mechanism of transferring knowledge:Explicit knowledge can be codified (for example, 'can you write it down' or 'put it into words' or 'draw a picture'), and easily transferred without the knowing subject. In contrast, tacit knowledge isintuitiveand unarticulated knowledge that cannot be communicated, understood or used without the 'knowing subject'. Unlike the transfer of explicit knowledge, the transfer of tacit knowledge requires close interaction and the buildup of shared understanding and trust among them.
Main methods for the acquisition and accumulation:Explicit knowledge can be generated throughlogical deductionand acquired through practical experience in the relevant context. In contrast, tacit knowledge can only be acquired through practical experience in the relevant context.
Potential of aggregation and modes of appropriation:Explicit knowledge can be aggregated at a single location, stored in objective forms, andappropriatedwithout the participation of the knowing subject. Tacit knowledge, in contrast, is personal and contextual; it is distributed across knowing subjects, and cannot easily be aggregated. The realization of its full potential requires the close involvement and cooperation of the knowing subject.

The process of transforming tacit knowledge into explicit or specifiable knowledge is known as codification, articulation, or specification. The tacit aspects of knowledge are those that cannot be codified, but can only be transmitted via training or gained through personal experience. There is a view against the distinction, where it is believed that allpropositional knowledge(knowledge that) is ultimately reducible topractical knowledge(knowledge how).^[14]

Nonaka–Takeuchi model

Ikujiro Nonakaproposed a model of knowledge creation that explains how tacit knowledge can be converted to explicit knowledge, both of which can be converted into organisational knowledge.^[15]While introduced by Nonaka in 1990,^[16]the model was further developed byHirotaka Takeuchiand is thus known as the Nonaka–Takeuchi model.^[15]^[17]In this model, tacit knowledge is presented variously as uncodifiable ( "tacit aspects of knowledge are those that cannot be codified" ) and codifiable ( "transforming tacit knowledge into explicit knowledge is known as codification" ). This ambiguity is common in theknowledge managementliterature.

Assuming that knowledge is created through the interaction between tacit and explicit knowledge, the Nonaka–Takeuchi model postulates four different modes of knowledge conversion:^[15]

from tacit knowledge to tacit knowledge, orsocialization;
from tacit knowledge to explicit knowledge, orexternalization;
from explicit knowledge to explicit knowledge, orcombination;and
from explicit knowledge to tacit knowledge, orinternalization.

Nonaka's view may be contrasted with Polanyi's original view of "tacit knowing". Polanyi believed that whiledeclarative knowledgemay be needed for acquiring skills, it is unnecessary for using those skills once the novice becomes an expert. Indeed, it does seem to be the case that, as Polanyi argued, when people acquire a skill, they acquire a corresponding understanding that defies articulation.^[7]

Examples

One of the most convincing examples of tacit knowledge isfacial recognition:one knows a person's face, and can recognize it among a thousand, indeed a million. Yet, people usually cannot tell how they recognize that face, so most of this cannot be put into words. When one sees a face, they are not conscious about their knowledge of the individual features (eye, nose, mouth), but rather see and recognize the face as a whole.^[18]
Another example of tacit knowledge is the notion oflanguageitself: it is not possible tolearn a languagejust by being taught the rules ofgrammar—anative-speakerpicks it up at a young age, almost entirely unaware of theformal grammarwhich they may be taught later.
Other examples are how to ride a bike, how tight to make a bandage, or knowing whether a senior surgeon feels an intern may be ready to learn the intricacies of surgery; this can only be learned through personal experimentation.
Harry M. Collinsshowed that Western laboratories long had difficulties in successfully replicating an experiment that a team led byVladimir BraginskyatMoscow State Universityhad been conducting for 20 years (the experiment was measuring the quality,Q,factors ofsapphire). Western scientists became suspicious of the Russian results and it was only when Russian and Western scientists conducted the measurements collaboratively that the trust was reestablished. Collins argues that laboratory visits enhance the possibility for the transfer of tacit knowledge.^[19]^[20]
TheBessemer steel processis another example:Henry Bessemersold a patent for his advancedsteelmakingprocess and was subsequently sued by the purchasers after they could not get it to work. In the end, Bessemer set up his own steel company because he knew how to do it, even though he could not convey it to his patent users.^[21]
WhenMatsushita(now Panasonic) started developing its automatic homebread-making machinein 1985, an early problem was how to mechanize the dough-kneadingprocess, a process that takes a master baker years of practice to perfect. To learn this tacit knowledge, a member of the software development team, Ikuko Tanaka, decided to volunteer herself as an apprentice to the head baker of the Osaka International Hotel, who was reputed to produce the area's best bread. After a period of imitation and practice, one day she observed that the baker was not only stretching, but also twisting the dough in a particular fashion ( "twisting stretch" ), which turned out to be important in the success of his method. The Matsushita home bakery team drew together eleven members from completely different specializations and cultures: product planning, mechanical engineering, control systems, and software development. The "twisting stretch" motion was finally achieved by a prototype machine after a year of iterative experimentation by the engineers and team members working closely together, combining their explicit knowledge. For example, the engineers added ribs to the inside of the dough case in order to hold the dough better as it is being churned. Another team member suggested a method (later patented) to add yeast at a later stage in the process, thereby preventing the yeast from over-fermenting in high temperatures.^[15]^: 284
During theCOVID-19 pandemic,increasedremote workseems to have influenced the informal exchange of tacit knowledge among workers, which has subsequently led to an adverse effect on the variety of outputs produced by remote workers.^[22]

References

^^a ^b"Tacit and Explicit Knowledge | Key Concepts in Information and Knowledge Management".www.tlu.ee.Retrieved2021-04-15.
^^a ^bPolanyi, Michael.1958.Personal Knowledge: Towards a Post-Critical Philosophy.Chicago: University of Chicago Press.ISBN 0-226-67288-3.
^Polanyi, Michael.1966.The Tacit Dimension.Chicago: University of Chicago Press. p. 4.
^Héder, Mihály; Paksi, Daniel (2018)."Non-Human Knowledge According to Michael Polanyi".Tradition and Discovery: The Polanyi Society Periodical.44(1): 50–66.doi:10.5840/traddisc20184418.
^^a ^bChugh, Ritesh (2015). "Do Australian Universities Encourage Tacit Knowledge Transfer?".Proceedings of the 7th International Joint Conference on Knowledge Discovery, Knowledge Engineering and Knowledge Management.pp. 128–135.doi:10.5220/0005585901280135.ISBN 978-989-758-158-8.
^^a ^bGoffin, K.; Koners, U. (2011). "Tacit Knowledge, Lessons Learnt, and New Product Development".Journal of Product Innovation Management.28(2): 300–318.doi:10.1111/j.1540-5885.2010.00798.x.
^^a ^b ^cSchmidt, Frank L.; Hunter, John E. (February 1993). "Tacit Knowledge, Practical Intelligence, General Mental Ability, and Job Knowledge".Current Directions in Psychological Science.2(1): 8–9.doi:10.1111/1467-8721.ep10770456.S2CID 145203923.
^Engel, P. J. H. (2008)."Tacit knowledge and Visual Expertise in Medical Diagnostic Reasoning: Implications for medical education".Medical Teacher.30(7): e184–e188.doi:10.1080/01421590802144260.PMID 18777417.
^^a ^bLam, Alice (May 2000). "Tacit Knowledge, Organizational Learning and Societal Institutions: An Integrated Framework".Organization Studies.21(3): 487–513.doi:10.1177/0170840600213001.S2CID 146466393.
^M., Collins, Harry (2013).Tacit and explicit knowledge.The University of Chicago Press.ISBN 978-0-226-00421-1.OCLC 871293266.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^Ryle, Gilbert (1945). "Knowing How and Knowing That: The Presidential Address".Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society.46:1–16.doi:10.1093/aristotelian/46.1.1.JSTOR 4544405.
^Sensky, Tom (2002)."Knowledge Management".Advances in Psychiatric Treatment.8(5): 387–395.doi:10.1192/apt.8.5.387.
^Angioni, Giulio (2011).Fare, dire, sentire: l'identico e il diverso nelle culture[Doing, saying, feeling: the identical and the different in cultures] (in Italian). Il maestrale. pp. 26–99.ISBN 978-88-6429-020-1.
^Hetherington, S, (2011) How to Know: A Practicalist Conception of Knowledge, Wiley-Blackwell,ISBN 9780470658123.^{[page needed]}
^^a ^b ^c ^dNonaka, Ikujiro,andHirotaka Takeuchi.1995.The Knowledge-creating Company: How Japanese Companies Create the Dynamics of Innovation.New York: Oxford University Press.ISBN 978-0-19-509269-1.Availableat theInternet Archive(registration required).
^Nonaka, Ikujiro.1990.Management of Knowledge Creation.Tokyo: Nihon Keizai Shinbun-sha.
^Xu, F. 2013. "The Formation and Development of Ikujiro Nonaka's Knowledge Creation Theory. Pp. 60-76 inTowards Organizational Knowledge: The Pioneering Work of Ikujiro Nonaka,edited by G. von Krogh, et al. Basingstoke, UK: Palgrave Macmillan.
^Polanyi, Michael.[1966] 1983.The Tacit Dimension.Gloucester: Doubleday & Company Inc. p. 4.
^Collins, H. M. (February 2001)."Tacit Knowledge, Trust and the Q of Sapphire"(PDF).Social Studies of Science.31(1): 71–85.doi:10.1177/030631201031001004.S2CID 145429576.
^Collins, Harry M. 2010.Tacit and Explicit Knowledge.Chicago: University of Chicago Press. ISBN 9780226113807.
^Gordon, J.E.The new science of strong materials.Penguin books.^{[page needed]}
^Toscani, Giulio (2023). "The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic for artificial intelligence practitioners: The decrease in tacit knowledge sharing".Journal of Knowledge Management.27(7): 1871–1888.doi:10.1108/JKM-07-2022-0574.

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