TYPES OF KNOWLEDGE
Knowledge management literature has defined “tacit" and “explicit” types of knowledge to assist in identifying appropriate strategies and processes for knowledge transfer and knowledge capture.
Tacit Knowledge
Can be understood to be the “know-how, insight, judgment, and intuition” that reflects an individual’s education, expertise, and experience
May be difficult to communicate in a manual or written procedures, but may be communicated to another individual such as an apprentice, a mentee, or related to others in a community of practice or simply through working together in problem solving and decision making
Explicit Knowledge
Can be represented in written procedures, policies, databases, desk manuals, research reports, training videos and can be reposed in libraries, or on a website or an intranet
Knowledge shared in these ways contributes to the organization’s knowledge base, enabling employees to avoid duplication of effort and increasing efficiency and effectiveness
Source: VDOT KM Toolkit, p. 3; Spy Pond Partners LLC, p. 50, 52.