Posted by Denham on September 02, 2001 at 22:03:19:

In Reply to: Re: Key KM issues -- and loads of questions! posted by Martyn R Jones on September 02, 2001 at 20:34:30:

- In the short term, do we need to find a way (or more likely in my opinion, a series of ways) to uncover all tacit knowledge, or could we be relatively content in progressively introducing and improving ways to uncover certain classes of tacit knowledge?

Finding ways to uncover and discover tacit knowledge must feature high on any list. Some approaches offer promise, but they are expensive, i.e. videography, ethnography, action resesearch, role activity modeling.

- Will our improved methods in discovering and uncovering of certain classes of tacit knowledge help us to understand tacit knowledge in any way?

Great question, pure enumeration and classification exercises will not do the trick, we will need more basic research e.g. like that of Julian Orr, Susan Stucky, Edwin Hutchins, Philippe Baumard.

- By following a process of uncovering and understanding tacit knowledge does that knowledge become explicit knowledge or does it remain partially or wholly tacit?

Discovery of true tacit knowledge is unlikely to hasten making it explicit, rather should highlight alternative apporaches to transfer. Where we find implicit knowledge I expect pressures & efforts will strong to unmask most of the gems.

- Under what circumstances would be wish to promote the growth of knowledge as tacit knowledge and not explicit knowledge?

Tacit knowledge that helps to support & promote competitive advantage should not be opened up. Baumard points to the destructive consequences of explication. A lot of cognitive work lies beyond reductionism, rationality and logic - way too many Km folk are unwilling to accept this 'darkness' and devise ways to cope, they wish to shine the light of 'science' and uncover everything.

- Which in someway is linked to the question of how can we transfer tacit knowledge without making it explicit?

Tacit transfer is about building Ba, moving (rotating) people, returning to apprenticeship modes, paired-work, work shaddows, knowledge networks and communities of practice. It is about knowing as becoming & being.

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