Difficulties in Diffusion of Tacit Knowledge in Organizations

Introduction
The management of knowledge an intengible

asset holds great importance.

The diffusion of knowledge within the organization

is a challeging and difficult task.

Introduction
Two Divisions of Knowledge Resources:

(on the basis of knowledge struturing and coding)

Coding and Externalization of Knowledge is either

considered highly important or of minor importance by different groups of researchers.

Introduction
Increase in interest in the management of

knowledge (structured and unstructures) and information technology.

The communication of knowledge takes place in

different forms:
Structured knowledge is diffused through different

systems within the organization. Unstructured knowledge is diffused by different forms of codifying, written or spoken.

Introduction
Now, interest is rising in the management and

diffusion of tacit knowledge.

This area is unexplored and not fully understood

compare to the work on explicit knowledge.

Tacit Knowledge
What is Tacit Knowledge?

Tacit knowledge is the kind of knowledge that is difficult to transfer to another person by means of writing it down or verbalizing it.

Knowledge Resources in Organizations

Different Levels of Knowledge: (on the basis of

codify)
Structured Knowledge Unstructure Knowledge Tacit Knowledge

Knowledge Resources in Organizations

Organizaitons Knowledge is defined as an Ice-Berg:
Structured Knowledge Explicit Knowledge is the visible top of the iceberg. Easy to find and recognize. Easier to share. Examples: Database and Instruction Books. Unstructure Knowledge Somewhat part of Explicit Knowledge but not fully organizaed. Moderately easy to find and recognize. Moderately easy to share. Examples: Found in Reports and Discussions. Tacit Knowledge Implicit Knowledge is the invisible and hard momentous part beneath the surface. The most transparent and subjective form of knowledgee. Know it more than expressing it. Difficult to share.

Tacit Knowledge
Extreme A: Completely Tacit and Unconscious Knowlege Extreme B: Explicit, Structured and Coded Knowledge

Tacit Knowledge
Epitomes of Tacit Knowledge in Working Life:
Intuition
Rule-of-thumb Gut feeling Personal skills

Two Dimensions:
Technical: emcompasses information and expertise in

relation to know-how. Cognitive Dimension: consists of mental models, beliefs and values.
It is like to carry out a task without a set of instructions.

Differences between Explicit and Tacit Knowledge

Tacit Knowledge is obtained by internal individual

processes: experience, reflectio, internalization or individual talents.

Tacit Knowledge is stored mostly in humans

compared to explicti knowledge being stored in a mechanical (handbooks) or technological (information systems) way.

Differences between Explicit and Tacit Knowledge

Tacit Knowledge can be shared through methods

of social interaction and practical expereinces: apprenticeship, direct interation, networking and action learning.
Tacit Knowledge cannot be given in lectures or

found in daatbases, textbooks, mauals or internal newsletters.

Tacit Knowledge
It will be beneficial for an organization if it is able to

convert tacit knowledge to explicit or at least ability to share it.

Power of Tacit Knowledge

Structured and Explicit Knowledge is of

importance but the higher levels of knowledge unstructured and intangible tacit knowledge help in the achievement of excellence in a job.
Explicit Knowledge is for everyone but Tacit

Knowledge separates the masters from the common.

Power of Tacit Knowledge

Tacit knowledge makes work go smoothly and

increases its quality as well and helps the individual become a master of the profession as well.
It improvises the way of the working in the service

industry and making important decisions.

It helps in time management and be efficient.

Power of Tacit Knowledge

Practice with Knowledge helps in the effective

achievement of tasks and assignments.

know-how is comparatively more important than

know-what

Sharing Tacit Knowledge

Two schools of thoughts:

(Externalization and Codification of Tacit Knowledge)

One suggests to make it explicit while the other

suggests to remain tacit as it is.

Sharing Tacit Knowledge

Model of SECI-Model:
Four Modes: S-socialization Social interaction E-externalization Conversion of tacit knowledge to explicit C-combination Transferring of explicit knowledge through communication I-internalization Conversion of explict knowledge to tacit when the indicidual absorbs the knowledge and practice it.

Sharing Tacit Knowledge

Main focus on Externalization. In order to convert tacit knowledge to explict, the

possessor needs to become conscious of the knowledge he/she possesses and then express the knowledge.
There is another view that there is no need of

conversion as it may be destructive.

Tacit knowledge is also shared through interaction

and experience and in the process the prossessor may not be aware of the knowledge.

Difficulties of Sharing Tacit Knowledge

The difficulties are related to perception,

language, time, value and distance.

Difficulties of Sharing Tacit Knowledge

Perception and Language are main difficulties as

individuals may not be fully conscious of their full range of knowledge.

Explicit knowledge is easy to recognize but tacit

knowledge cant be pin-point easily.

Tacit Knowledge is carried out in non-verbal form

and it may be difficult to express the same in words. The variations in the language, terminologies also have an impact.

Difficulties of Sharing Tacit Knowledge

Time is also a factor to be considered as

conversion takes time during internalization.

Speed of business is high and time for reflection

is scarce.
Learning organizational culture or model occurs

over time and through active participation and interaction.

Difficulties of Sharing Tacit Knowledge

Value implies the idea that for example intuition

may not relate to logic and rationality.

Value is associated with measurement as well

where certain tacit knowledge may not be considered valuable for converison to explicit knowledge.

Difficulties of Sharing Tacit Knowledge

Distance if present can also create difficulty as

well because conversion is effective through face to face interaction.

Modern information technology is expected to

facilitate diffusion in artificail face to face interaction.

Conclusion
Tacit Knowledge has gained importance in relation to:
Decision-making Time-management Quality Competitiveness

Management of Tacit Knowledge is to be carried out

in a different manner.
Difficulty exists in the diffusion of tacit knowledge. KNOWLEDGE IS POWER.