Tacit vs explicit knowledge: Exploring the key differences

When it comes to business knowledge, two types definitely stand out: tacit knowledge and explicit knowledge. Their names might sound familiar to you, but it’s important that you also understand the key differences between the two types to unlock their true potential and apply them to your organization.

This article will help you understand the concepts of tacit and explicit knowledge and how they differ. We'll also explore strategies for turning tacit knowledge into explicit knowledge and discover how online tools like SC Training (formerly EdApp) can assist you in this process.

What is explicit knowledge?

Explicit knowledge refers to knowledge that is straightforward and can be easily explained, written down, and shared with others. It's the kind of knowledge you can find in books, documents, or digital sources. This knowledge is specific, based on facts, and can be communicated using words, numbers, or symbols. 

Examples of knowledge include things like training manuals, training materials, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and reports and documentation.

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What is tacit knowledge?

Tacit knowledge, on the other hand, is the type of knowledge that’s difficult to express or put into words. It’s deeply rooted in personal experience, intuition, skills, and insights that are often unspoken and unconscious. 

Tacit knowledge is gained through years of practice, observation, and hands-on experience. It includes things like task expertise, problem-solving abilities, and even social skills. Tacit knowledge is often embedded in a person's mindset, behavior, and actions, which makes it hard to pass on directly to others.

Some examples of tacit knowledge in the workplace include understanding office politics, recognizing informal communication channels, and having a contextual understanding of the organization's culture. It means knowing the unwritten rules, identifying influential people, and being aware of unofficial information flows.

Comparing tacit vs explicit knowledge

Here, let’s explore the contrasting nature of both knowledge types and explore their respective strengths and applications.

Nature of tacit vs explicit knowledge

Explicit knowledge is formal, objective, and can be written down easily. It's the type of information you typically find in books or documents. Tacit knowledge, on the other hand, is more personal and subjective. It's based on individual experiences, intuition, and insights that are hard to put into words.

Transferability of tacit vs explicit knowledge

Explicit information can be easily shared through writing or digital means. It can be stored in manuals or databases, so workforces can easily access it. This is extremely different from tacit knowledge, which is generally harder to transfer. It requires personal interaction and hands-on experience. One has to observe and learn from others to gain their tacit knowledge.

Accessibility of tacit vs explicit knowledge

As mentioned above, explicit knowledge is readily available because it's stored in physical or digital forms. Your team can look it up whenever they need to refresh their mind. Tacit knowledge is different. It exists inside people's minds and actions. To access it, your team has to watch and learn from your organization’s seniors and experts or collaborate with them.

Application of tacit vs explicit knowledge

Explicit knowledge is useful in structured and predictable situations. It offers clear instructions and procedures to follow. Meanwhile, tacit knowledge is more valuable in complex and uncertain situations. It helps with decision-making and problem-solving when things are not straightforward.

Acquisition of tacit vs explicit knowledge

Explicit knowledge is typically acquired through formal education, training programs, or by studying written materials. It can be learned without direct personal experience. This is different from tacit knowledge, which is acquired through practical, hands-on experience, and observation. It’s often gained over time through trial and error, practice, and reflection.

By understanding these differences, you can appreciate the unique qualities and challenges associated with both tacit and explicit knowledge. This understanding can inform strategies for capturing, managing, and leveraging these different types of knowledge to drive innovation, enhance performance, and foster continuous learning within your organization.

Effective strategies for translating tacit knowledge to explicit knowledge

Translating tacit knowledge into explicit knowledge is highly beneficial for preserving knowledge, fostering collaboration, standardizing practices, and promoting innovation. 

While it may not be absolutely essential in all cases, it significantly maximizes your organization’s potential and capabilities by making valuable insights more accessible and usable across everyone in your team.

Here are some effective strategies on how to effectively translate tacit knowledge into explicit knowledge:

Use online tools and learning platforms

Taking advantage of online tools and learning platforms can significantly enhance the translation of tacit knowledge into explicit knowledge. Interactive e-learning courses, virtual simulations, or online communities can serve as a place for your team to engage with and learn from tacit knowledge in a structured and scalable manner. 

One of the best tools to consider is SC Training (formerly EdApp). This learning management system (LMS) platform boasts a powerful course creator tool that allows you to create interactive and engaging e-learning courses. These courses can be designed to capture and present explicit knowledge derived from tacit sources. 

This course creator tool is backed by microlearning templates, allowing you to break down complex concepts or processes into digestible pieces with clear instructions, visuals, and assessments. This helps you transform tacit knowledge into explicit knowledge that can be easily understood and learned by your team.

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Foster collaboration with subject matter experts

Another way to facilitate your knowledge transfer is by inviting professionals and subject matter experts who have similar interests or expertise into your workplace. You can have them present in front of your team and engage in one-on-one conversations. 

This creates opportunities for the sharing of tacit knowledge through discussions, knowledge-sharing sessions, and collaborative projects. 

By interacting with these experts, your team can absorb, question, and refine the tacit knowledge, gradually transforming it into explicit knowledge that can be easily understood and applied.

Encourage your team experts to share their success through storytelling

Encouraging your team experts to reflect on their experiences and share stories is also a great way to turn tacit knowledge into explicit knowledge. When they think back on their successes, failures, and lessons learned, they can express the underlying principles, strategies, and insights they gained. 

These stories can be captured through interviews, case studies, or multimedia formats so that tacit knowledge becomes documented and easier to share.

Offer mentorship and apprenticeship

Pairing your experienced team members with your newly hired staff in mentoring or apprenticeship relationships is also a great way to transfer tacit knowledge into explicit knowledge. 

Through one-on-one interactions, hands-on training, and direct observation, mentors can pass on their tacit knowledge to mentees or apprentices. This personalized approach ensures that expertise is passed down and preserved within your organization. 

Document knowledge and create manuals

Creating structured formats, guidelines, and manuals can help capture tacit knowledge and turn it into explicit knowledge. This means breaking down complex processes, methodologies, or techniques into clear step-by-step instructions, diagrams, or visual representations. 

By documenting tacit knowledge in an organized way, people can share their expertise and make it accessible for others to learn and apply.

Key takeaway

Tacit and explicit knowledge are two different types of knowledge that are closely related. Explicit knowledge is easy to explain and share with others, while tacit knowledge is more hidden and resides in our experiences, expertise, and intuition. 

Knowing the key difference between these two forms of knowledge can help create strategies for transforming tacit knowledge into explicit knowledge that can be easily communicated. 

Platforms like SC Training (formerly EdApp) can be incredibly valuable for transforming tacit knowledge into explicit knowledge. Not only does it give you the means to convert your tacit knowledge into a more accessible form, but you also gain the ability to effectively manage both types of knowledge. 

This promotes a culture of continuous learning within your organization, enhances your team's performance, and contributes to the overall success of your company.