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The paradox of using tacit and explicit knowledge: strategies to face dilemmas

The paradox of using tacit and explicit knowledge: strategies to face dilemmas
The paradox of using tacit and explicit knowledge: strategies to face dilemmas
Purpose - This paper contrasts two perspectives on the distinction between tacit and explicit knowledge: on the one hand, the perspective that categorises knowledge as belonging to either one or the other class; and, on the other hand, the perspective that views knowledge type as a graded continuum.
Design/methodology/approach - The paper explores the extensive literature on the topic, and from this literature engages in conceptual development.
Findings - The paper adopts the view that the continuum perspective, in which knowledge in a particular context has both tacit and explicit characteristics, is of particular value when considering the knowledge strategy of an organisation. Whereas the former perspective presents a well-known dilemma, the continuum perspective permits the specification of a strategy in which the advantages of both tacit and explicit knowledge can, in principle, be obtained. One such strategy might be one that renders organisational knowledge as internally explicit, but externally tacit.
Originality/value - The paper develops a view of the explicit/tacit dilemma that leads to a possible way forward in resolving the dilemma for organisations.
corporate strategy, knowledge management
0025-1747
102-112
Jasimuddin, S.M.
6de03d24-68b2-4449-b9bb-c21a348edcf9
Klein, J.H.
639e04f0-059a-4566-9361-a4edda0dba7d
Connell, N.A.D.
20c3599b-f2e6-49fb-9b95-870b421fc27e
Jasimuddin, S.M.
6de03d24-68b2-4449-b9bb-c21a348edcf9
Klein, J.H.
639e04f0-059a-4566-9361-a4edda0dba7d
Connell, N.A.D.
20c3599b-f2e6-49fb-9b95-870b421fc27e

Jasimuddin, S.M., Klein, J.H. and Connell, N.A.D. (2005) The paradox of using tacit and explicit knowledge: strategies to face dilemmas. Management Decision, 43 (1), 102-112. (doi:10.1108/00251740510572515).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Purpose - This paper contrasts two perspectives on the distinction between tacit and explicit knowledge: on the one hand, the perspective that categorises knowledge as belonging to either one or the other class; and, on the other hand, the perspective that views knowledge type as a graded continuum.
Design/methodology/approach - The paper explores the extensive literature on the topic, and from this literature engages in conceptual development.
Findings - The paper adopts the view that the continuum perspective, in which knowledge in a particular context has both tacit and explicit characteristics, is of particular value when considering the knowledge strategy of an organisation. Whereas the former perspective presents a well-known dilemma, the continuum perspective permits the specification of a strategy in which the advantages of both tacit and explicit knowledge can, in principle, be obtained. One such strategy might be one that renders organisational knowledge as internally explicit, but externally tacit.
Originality/value - The paper develops a view of the explicit/tacit dilemma that leads to a possible way forward in resolving the dilemma for organisations.

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More information

Published date: 2005
Keywords: corporate strategy, knowledge management

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 36193
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/36193
ISSN: 0025-1747
PURE UUID: 3d094511-a7bd-4097-aa34-6f0e918c917d
ORCID for J.H. Klein: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-5495-8738

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 22 May 2006
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 02:34

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Contributors

Author: S.M. Jasimuddin
Author: J.H. Klein ORCID iD
Author: N.A.D. Connell

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