Answer to Question #209504 in Management for Prabhdeep

Question

SUBJECT : KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT

Why is it difficult to directly codify tacit knowledge , explain by giving 7 difficulties with elaboration ? What are the pitfalls (give 6 pitfalls with elaboration) that one could encounter in capturing tacit knowledge? How would you address (give 6 points with elaboration ) these pitfalls ?

Answer 1

Tacit knowledge refers to the knowledge, skills, and abilities an individual gains through experience that is often difficult to put into words or communicate.The following are the reasons why it is difficult to directly codify tacit knowledge;

1) Tacit knowledge is tough to share with others because it is gathered from observation and experience. Tacit Knowledge is that knowledge that resides in the human brain. It is the experience, intelligence, and know-how of the people in the organization. Unlike explicit knowledge, tacit knowledge cannot be codified easily or expressed in explicit form.

2) Tacit knowledge is a form of knowledge that is difficult to codify due to its inexplicable nature. It can consist of culture and habits that the holder may not be aware of or might not notice easily.

3) Tacit knowledge is difficult to codify since it's experiences, and abilities are not articulated or represented codified manner hence difficult to learn and internalize.

4) Tacit knowledge is difficult to codify and diffuse because it is hard to verbalize and can only be expressed through action-based skills. Tacit knowledge cannot be reduced to rules and recipes.

5) It is difficult to codify tacit knowledge since it is the experiences, ideas, and skills that people have, so they are not easily expressed.

6) Tacit knowledge is difficult to codify because it is creative and dependent on the history and experience of an organization or individuals that is embodied in their minds and therefore, difficult to access, transfer and share.

7) Tacit knowledge enters into the production of behaviors and or it is the constitution of mental states that is not ordinarily accessible to consciousness therefore, making it difficult to be codified.

The following are the pitfalls that one can encounter while capturing tacit knowledge;

1) Some employees who are good at tacit knowledge in a particular organization might not like to share their best ideas with others making it difficult for other employees to learn since tacit knowledge can only be learned through observation and practice.

2) Some employees would like to consider themselves as experts and would not like to collaborate with other employees so that they can enjoy supremacy within the organization.

3) Promotion of employees for the knowledge they posses may make these employees not to share their ideas with their colleagues so that they can maintain their relevance within the company to stay being employed.

4) Employees who are good at Tacit knowledge in a particular company may feel that other employees who are still gradually learning tacit knowledge of that company have nothing to offer therefore, reducing the ability of there employees to gain tacit knowledge.

5) Some employees may not like to share their experiences and ideas with other employees because they fear competition making it difficult for other employees to gain tacit knowledge.

6) Some employees might find it difficult to express and teach other employees their ideas due to the inexplicable nature of tacit knowledge which consists of habits and culture that the employees themselves might not be consciously aware of.

The following are ways to address the pitfalls;

1) Encouraging the willingness of the employees to share their best ideas with others since tacit knowledge can only be shared through observation and practice.

2) Encouraging team work in the organization so that the employees can work closely with each other so that they can learn and share tacit knowledge.

3) Give the employees an opportunity to express their ideas and realize how much their ideas are valuable to the company and other employees.

4) Awarding of the team members who have demonstrated good qualities of team work to motivate them to continue working as a team hence encouraging the sharing of tacit knowledge.

5) Creating awareness of the responsibility and importance of each and every worker that the company is benefiting from them so that they do not feel useless and underrated by other workers.

6) Encourage and create awareness of unity among the employees to encourage them to work as a team hence it is easy for them to learn tacit knowledge from each other.