Knowledge Management

Illustrating data, information and knowledge

Characteristics of Knowledge

• Knowledge is a human capability, not a file, document or video
• Knowledge results from interaction with a source
• Knowledge is generative:  knowledge-holders can create new appropriate statements
• Knowledge is elaborate:  it's a web or map of information, comes in large packets, and takes time acquire
• Knowledge is context-sensitive
• Knowledge is both explicit and tacit:
• Explicit knowledge is objective facts that are readily documented
• Explicit knowledge is "know-what"
• Tacit knowledge is subjective:  values, judgments, assumptions, intuition
• Tacit knowledge is in people's heads, only surfacing through interaction
• Tacit knowledge is "know-why"
• Real knowledge - "know-how" - is created from the interaction of explicit and tacit knowledge.