Understanding the Different Types of Knowledge
Thinking about setting up a knowledge management system or refining your knowledge strategy? It’s important to start by understanding the different types of knowledge.
This way, you can effectively gather, organize, and share this valuable info with others.
In this post, we’ll go over the different types of knowledge, provide some real-life examples, and discuss why each type is important.
I. What is knowledge?
Simply put, knowledge is the aggregated information, facts, skills, and understanding about a subject that a person gains through education, experience, and reasoning.
In the workplace, a company’s success is often based on the quality and accessibility of its knowledge, and the extent to which it’s shared. In fact, research has found that knowledge sharing increases the creativity, innovation, and overall performance of businesses worldwide.
II. Types of Knowledge?
As we explore these different types of knowledge, we will see how each plays a vital role in driving innovation, growth, and competitive advantage in any business.
1. Explicit knowledge
What is explicit knowledge?
Explicit knowledge is the type of knowledge that is easy to express and share, this is knowledge that can easily be codified using words, images and numbers.
It is clearly written down or documented, as in Standard Operating Procedures or marketing reports. Think of it as helpful instructions in a how-to guide or helpful information in introductory materials.
This type of knowledge is stored as data that can be easily organized and understood. It is easy to communicate, making its meaning clear to everyone.
Because it is so clear and accessible, explicit knowledge is useful for sharing among employees.
It can easily be added to the knowledge base or included in your Knowledge Management strategy, keeping everyone on the same page.
Examples of Explicit Knowledge
Here are some examples of explicit knowledge:
Mathematical formulas: Knowledge of mathematical formulas, such as the quadratic formula or the area of a circle, is clear because it can be easily recorded, taught, and applied consistently in many other contexts together.
Manuals and guides: Appliance manuals, furniture assembly instructions, or cooking recipes are all forms of explicit knowledge. They provide step-by-step instructions on how to perform specific tasks.
Scientific theories: Theories such as Newton’s laws of motion or Einstein’s theory of relativity are very clear. They are well documented, widely taught in educational institutions, and form the basis for further scientific research.
Historical events: Information about historical events, dates, figures, and places,, are examples of this knowledge.
Programming code: The source code of the software is a form of explicit knowledge. It is written in a specific programming language that can be understood and used by people skilled in the field.
2. Tacit knowledge
What is Tacit knowledge?
Tacit knowledge is like the implicit skills and understanding that employees acquire through their experiences. It includes everything learned from everyday activities, observations, and interactions that are not formally recorded.
This type of knowledge is valuable because it helps the workplace run smoothly but is often difficult to explain or teach to others because it is so ingrained. It’s like knowing how to balance on a bike—you learn it through experience and it becomes automatic.
Examples of Tacit knowledge
Tacit knowledge is the type of know-how that is difficult to write down or explain because it comes from personal experience. Here are some everyday:
For example, it could be an employee’s approach to effectively organizing their work process or a manager’s ability to recognize when an employee needs assistance.
Problem solving in the workplace: Imagine a teacher who knows the right way to calm a noisy classroom or a chef who can taste a dish and know exactly what it needs. They learned these skills through a lot of practice, not from textbooks.
Caring for others: For example, nurses often know how to make someone feel better, not only by giving medicine but also by the way they talk and make their patient feel comfortable.
Sports: Athletes often make small changes in the way they move to play their sport better. These adjustments are often learned by feeling and doing, rather than someone telling them exactly what to change.
Be a leader: Some people are really good at leading others. They know how to motivate their team and make difficult decisions, often based on deep emotions from years of experience.
Tacit knowledge is everything you “get” from work and life, not what you can read in a book or write down according to instructions.
3. Implicit knowledge
What is Implicit knowledge?
Implicit knowledge is like things that happen automatically in our minds without us even realizing it. It is made up of all the beliefs, skills and habits we acquire from our experiences and the world around us.
You know how you can ride a bike without thinking about how to pedal and keep your balance? That’s implicit knowledge at work!
This type of knowledge is extremely important because it shapes how we see things, how we react in different situations, and how we get along with others.
Implicit knowledge includes things like cultural norms we follow (like saying “please” and “thank you”), unconscious biases we may have, and instincts that emerge when we do something we’re really good at.
These are all things that are difficult to explain but really affect how we handle life’s challenges and interact with the people around us.
Examples of Implicit knowledge
Here are some examples that help illustrate what implicit knowledge might include:
Understanding social cues: Recognizing when someone is sad, happy or irritable based on their facial expressions or tone of voice is something we often do automatically without consciously thinking about it .
Speak your native language: You can speak, understand and use the grammar of your native language without having to think twice about the rules.
Play a musical instrument: Once you are proficient, playing a musical instrument requires a lot of implicit knowledge. You can play chords and rhythms without consciously planning each finger movement.
Cook a familiar recipe: If you’ve cooked a dish many times, you may find yourself adding ingredients and adjusting the temperature intuitively without strictly following a recipe.
Typing on the keyboard: Experienced typists can type quickly without looking at the keyboard, relying on muscle memory to find the right key.
These examples show how implicit knowledge works in everyday activities, allowing us to perform complex tasks without having to consciously focus on every detail.
4. Procedural Knowledge
What is Procedural Knowledge?
Procedural knowledge, also known as “know-how,” refers to the knowledge of how to perform various tasks and activities. It involves understanding the processes and sequences of actions required to achieve specific goals.
Procedural knowledge is action-oriented and is often acquired through practice and repetition. It encompasses the skills and methodologies that individuals use to accomplish tasks, ranging from simple physical actions to complex cognitive strategies. This type of knowledge is essential for the execution of tasks efficiently and effectively.
The value of procedural knowledge lies in its practical application. It enables individuals to develop competencies and expertise in their fields, contributing to improved performance and productivity.
Procedural knowledge is often transmitted through demonstration, practice, and hands-on training.
Examples of Procedural Knowledge?
Here are some examples that illustrate this concept in everyday life and professional fields:
Cook a meal: Following a recipe requires knowledge of the process. You need to know the steps, such as how to cut vegetables, stir-fry, and time everything to make the dish delicious.
Using software: Whether it’s editing a document in Word, creating a spreadsheet in Excel, or designing graphics in Photoshop, each task requires specific process steps that you learn through practice.
Emergency Procedures: Knowing what to do in the event of a fire, earthquake, or other emergency involves procedural knowledge. Exercises help people practice these steps so they can do them automatically when stressed.
What is Propositional Knowledge?
Propositional knowledge, or “knowing that,” is like having a set of facts in your brain. It’s all about knowing specific things and being able to say whether they are true or false, or more easily understood, plain truths.
For example, knowing that the sky is blue or that two plus two equals four are propositional knowledge.
This type of knowledge is really simple and can be shared easily verbally. These are things you learn in school, like historical dates, scientific facts, or grammar rules.
Propositional knowledge is extremely important because it lays the foundation for understanding and reasoning. It helps us build a foundation of information that we can use to think and understand the world.
Examples of Propositional Knowledge
Here are some simple examples to help you understand what it means:
Historical fact: Knowing that the United States achieved independence in 1776 is a piece of propositional knowledge. That is a clear historical fact.
Scientific fact: If you know that water boils at 100 degrees Celsius at sea level then that is propositional knowledge. It’s the truth about how water behaves under certain conditions.
Geographic information: If you know Tokyo is the capital of Japan, that is propositional knowledge. It’s a simple fact about a place.
Language rules: Knowing the rule “I before E minus after C” for spelling some English words is propositional knowledge. It’s a guide to help with spelling.
Cultural fact: If you know that Leonardo da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa, that is propositional knowledge. That’s the truth about a famous work of art.
What is A Priori Knowledge ?
A priori knowledge is a fancy term for things we know without having experienced them directly. Think of it as built-in knowledge, ready to use immediately!
You don’t need to see, touch or hear anything to know these truths; you can figure them out just by thinking about them.
Here’s a simple way to understand it:
- Math and Logic: For example, you know a triangle has three sides, right? You don’t have to go out and measure every triangle in the world to know this – it’s just a meaningful fact. This is a type of a priori knowledge because it is completely based on logic.
- Basic concepts: Another example is understanding what “bigger” and “smaller” mean. You don’t need someone to show you two objects to understand the concept that one object can be larger than the other.
The interesting thing about a priori knowledge is that it helps us understand the world deeply. This type of knowledge is extremely important in fields like mathematics, where you use it to build theories, or philosophy, where it helps you think about life’s big questions.
What is A Priori Knowledge ?
Here are some clear examples to help you understand the concept better:
Law of Non-Contradiction: This law states that a statement and its converse cannot be true at the same time. For example, “It is raining” and “It is not raining” cannot both be true in the same context at the same time.
Definitions:
Learn the concepts: Knowing what a single (unmarried) man is comes from the definition itself, not from meeting every single man in the world.
Ethical principles:
Basic moral truths: Some moral truths are taken for granted, such as “All things being equal, happiness is better than suffering.”
Philosophical knowledge:
Self-existence: René Descartes’s “I think therefore I am” is an example of a priori knowledge. It suggests that if you doubt or think, there must be a thinking being that exists to do that doubting.
What is A Posteriori Knowledge?
A posteriori knowledge is the type of knowledge we gain from our experiences. Unlike a priori knowledge which does not depend on what we see or feel, a posteriori knowledge comes from what we observe and experience around us.
This type of knowledge is always open for updates. As we gather new information, we may need to change our understanding.
The interesting thing about a posteriori knowledge is that it helps us understand the specifics of the universe. It shows us that our knowledge grows through interaction with the world, giving us a deeper and more detailed understanding of reality than we could get from just thinking things through in your head.
Examples of A Posteriori Knowledge
Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:
Gravity: You know that objects fall to earth not just because someone told you so but because you’ve seen things fall countless times. The knowledge that objects fall due to gravity is confirmed through your direct experience.
Weather patterns: You know that weather tends to be colder in winter and warmer in summer through yearly experience. This knowledge of seasonal weather changes comes from observing patterns over time.
Cultural norms: Understanding of behaviors and social norms in different cultures often comes from direct interaction and observation. For example, you may know that it is customary to bow when greeting someone in Japan through your experiences visiting or interacting with Japanese people.
Biological Response: You know from experience that touching a hot stove causes pain. Knowledge about the body’s reaction to high temperatures is not theoretical but is based on personal sensory experience.
These examples show how a posteriori knowledge, derived from empirical evidence and personal experience, forms an important part of how we understand and interact with the world around us.
VI. Conclusion
Understanding different types of knowledge is key when setting up or improving a knowledge management system. There are several kinds of knowledge, each important in its own way.
A good knowledge management system will help capture, organize and utilize knowledge effectively.
