The Value of Tacit Knowledge: A Balanced Perspective

YES—Tacit Knowledge is important. NO—Its tacit nature isn’t what makes it valuable.

Why do we get so excited when discussing tacit knowledge and its significance?

Here are a few reasons:

1. Knowledge creation always starts with tacit knowledge—so yes, it’s important. 📚

2. Experts in our organizations possess undocumented, unshared knowledge that is crucial for problem-solving and decision-making. This tacit knowledge is not only important but vital to business performance. 🎯

3. Tacit knowledge was neglected for many years in KM programs because managing explicit knowledge was easier. This gap elevates the importance of tacit knowledge. 🚀

These are indeed good and important reasons. However:

1. Not all tacit knowledge is equal. While some represent deep, critical knowledge, other portions may be less significant or even shallow. 🧐

2. Capturing tacit knowledge and turning it explicit doesn’t diminish its value. Even if some of it remains tacit, successfully codifying 80% of it is a win! 🏆

So, what’s my suggestion?

YES: Aim to handle tacit knowledge by:

• Fostering interactions and encouraging experts to share their knowledge. 🤝

• Creating new knowledge through various KM activities. 💡

• Capturing tacit knowledge and turning it explicit. ✍️

NO:

• Don’t treat all tacit knowledge with the same importance—it depends on its depth and specific value. ⚖️

• Don’t neglect the knowledge we’ve turned explicit; its value is priceless. 💎

We’re on the right track by embracing tacit knowledge. Let’s take it a step further by being smarter about how we treat both tacit and explicit knowledge. 🚀

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Want to learn more about knowledge retention?

Here are some articles you might find interesting:

• The Great Resignation

• Knowledge retention in current settings

• Knowledge Management: from Prehistory to the Era of Artificial Knowledge