Differentiate between explicit knowledge and tacit knowledge

Differentiate between explicit knowledge and tacit knowledge. Provide examples of each ?

Solution

Tacit knowledge is what people carry in their minds and we find it difficult to access. There are times we are not ourselves aware of the the knowledge we possess and also how valuable it can turn out to be if shared with others. The transfer of tacit knowledge mainly happens through personal contact and trust but this is considered to be very valuable. Many times this is not shared, primarily because we are unable to communicate all we know. This knowledge is also a very valuable input when it comes to innovations.

Explicit knowledge on the other hand, is what is documented or codifies and can be transferred easily to others. The processes, procedures, journals, manuals, drawings or any such artifacts come under Explicit knowledge. This is a form whereby human knowledge is externalized.

Explicit Knowledge vs. Tacit Knowledge

Explicit knowledge is searchable information that can be easily found. Users can collaborate on the value and use of the knowledge. On the other hand, tacit knowledge is knowledge found in people’s heads and is often difficult to share with another person by writing it down or verbalizing it. In the knowledge communities I have worked to implement, the goal is to help people better articulate their tacit knowledge.

After all, it’s easy to conduct a search in a knowledge community and find the company’s standard procedures or rules on a topic, but it’s not as simple to understand specifically how someone worked through the process or overcame challenges that arose. Not every knowledge community shares the nuances of working through a process, though they can provide the communication forum to explore it. That’s why understanding and working to better articulate tacit knowledge is critical. Knowledge communities are only just starting to facilitate the exchange of tacit knowledge.

Software solutions can be useful tools to share knowledge, but there is a component of sharing knowledge that software simply can’t fully fulfill—sharing knowledge is a very human process.