Trouble with tacit: developing a new perspective and approach

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this viewpoint paper is to question the widely adopted tacit-explicit distinction of knowledge, arguing that this is based on a misappraisal of the original source of the “tacit” phenomenon. Design/methodology/approach – It is argued that Michael Polanyi’s theory of personal knowledge and philosophical grounds have been misinterpreted. The tacit problem is approached from three different directions: knowledge management, cognitive psychology and discursive psychology. The first offers an imperative to regard the tacit as vital to organizational success and an underplayed “implicit” perspective on the tacit. The second offers empirical evidence for the formulation of the tacit as acquired automatically and unconsciously through implicit learning and as influencing action. The last offers a theory and methodology for studying what is argued as being the primary site of knowledge work – discourse. Findings – A novel aspect of the tacit – “tacit knowing” – is shown to be action-orientated and influential, and while it is a hidden aspect of a person’s knowledge, it can be revealed through the study and analysis of discourse. Originality/value – This is the first known paper in the extant literature to examine the tacit knowledge challenge from these combined directions. Implications for practice and study are discussed, and new directions for research proposed.

Big data text analytics: an enabler of knowledge management

“…As with big data, knowledge as a broad concept that has been classified and defined in many different ways in the extant literature (Nonaka & Takeuchi, 1995;Spender, 1996;Gao et al, 2008;van den Berg, 2013;Crane & Bontis, 2014). Knowledge has been defined as set of justified beliefs, which can be managed to enhance the organization's capability for effective action (Alavi & Leidner, 2001;Nonaka, 1994).…”

“…The most widely cited types of knowledge is are those of explicit and tacit knowledge (Inkpen & Dinur, 1998;Polanyi, 2009;Crane & Bontis, 2014). Explicit knowledge is that which can be documented and (Nonaka, 1991), and can consequently be easily transmitted Kogut and Zander, 1992) and embedded in standardised procedures (Martin & Salomon, 2003;Nelson & Winter, 1982).…”

“…Tacit knowledge, by contrast, is often implicit and not codified. Such knowledge is difficult to capture in the form of text and is context dependent (Crane & Bontis, 2014), often derived and shared through a process of learning by doing (Nonaka, 1994). Nonaka and Takeuchi (1995) posit that explicit and tacit knowledge are not mutually exclusive, but rather complementary with knowledge converted from one form to the other in some organisations.…”

Human capital development in socio-economic malaise: evidence from the UK

“…The former is embedded in individuals and inseparable from its barrier (Davis, 1967) whereas the later steams of knowledge in Nonaka and Takeuchi (1995) is transferable in formal, systematic language e.g. via reports, and databases (also see Crane et al, 2014). Stewart and Ruckdeschel (1998) posit that every business relies increasingly on knowledge and old-fashioned experience.…”

O alinhamento estratégico entre a área de TI e a área de Shopper Marketing de empresas de bens de consumo.

“…O conhecimento para muitos autores é encarado como um dos principais ativos de uma organização para a busca de inovação e vantagem competitiva. (NONAKA, 1994;NONAKA;KONNO, 1998;NONAKA;TOYAMA, 2003;NONAKA;TOYAMA, 2007;CORMICAN;O'SULLIVAN, 2003;MASSINGHAM, 2014;HUANG et al, 2011;XU;QUADDUS, 2011;CRANE;BONTIS, 2014;ADIDAM et al, 2012).…”