Which knowledge is at risk of walking out
Step 1 / 2·Two kinds of knowledge, two treatments
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Learning objectives — after this module you will:
- Tell explicit and tacit knowledge apart
- Score knowledge-loss risk on two axes
- Pick the right first three priority areas
Two kinds of knowledge, two treatments
Stop using one method for both.
Explicit knowledge is already written down or easy to write down: procedures, forms, specifications, lists. Its problem is version control and being findable, not extraction.
Tacit knowledge lives in someone's head: knowing which signs mean a machine is about to fail, knowing which customer needs a call before an email, knowing which step in a process can be skipped and which absolutely cannot. It does not flow into documents by itself, and it cannot be extracted by asking someone to 'write up their experience'.
Most knowledge management projects fail because they use the tool for the first kind — a document library — to solve the problem of the second.
Treatment by type
| Explicit knowledge | Tacit knowledge | |
|---|---|---|
| Examples | Written procedures, technical specifications, approved supplier lists | How to judge a case, tricks for handling exceptions, knowing who to ask |
| The barrier | Cannot find it, cannot tell which version is current | The person who knows does not think it is worth writing down |
| The method | Naming, classification, version control, a single source | Structured interviews, coaching, capturing real cases |
Do not start by buying a tool
A good storage platform does not make tacit knowledge appear. Start by identifying the risk areas and choosing the right extraction method; only then discuss where things will live.