Dennis:
The key to measuring tacit knowledge is the definition of it. I did a proof of Polanyi's tacit knowledge theory for my dissertation. If you go to www.coalescentknowledge.com
Working Papers tab, you will find a paper discussing the issues of tacit knowledge definition. Polanyi believe that "All knowledge comes from the tacit dimension". I believe that this is not correct, because you are not using all knowledge that you were not aware of in a tacit mode. Most people believe that you cannot measure something that you are unaware of. In the proof of Polanyi's theory on tacit knowledge, I accepted his belief that all knowledge comes from the tacit dimension. If this is the case, then your explicit knowledge (knowledge you know that you know) came from the tacit knowledge dimension. I needed to separate knowledge by sources, since both are individual knowledge. I came to the conclusion that there are two sources of information that becomes knowledge: 1. Self, 2. Others. In the self source, the person did their investigation and determined what is true. From the others source in many cases, people tend to accept the information as true and do not question it. I have a paper that I am working on that will show my theory on the conversion of information in to knowledge, etc. I look at the world as having three (3) knowledge dimensions: 1. Tacit (Individual), 2. Explicit (Individual), and 3. Coalescent (Shared).
1. Tacit per Polanyi has an empirical proof of theory (self)
2. Explicit generally accepted and is exported as information (Self and Others)
3. Coalescent, which comes from Others has an empirical proof of theory
Your opportunity requires you decide if you are looking at tacit from an individual or others perspective?
Things I do may appear to be tacit to an observer, but are not tacit to me.
I believe that explicit knowledge could become tacit for me. Example: Driving a car. Many of the variables that I paid attention to when I learned to drive are now process in the tacit mode.
To accomplish your objective to measure engineering tacit knowledge. I believe that you need to define the opportunity in more detail.
If you wish to contact me off the discussion board, then send an email to keith-aom@morgan.org
Keith Morgan Ph.D.
From: Organizational Behavior Division Listserv [mailto:OB@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU] On Behalf Of Dennis Rose
Sent: Friday, January 07, 2011 1:52 AM
To: OB@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU
Subject: [OB-LIST] measuring tacit knowledge
Can anyone please suggest some scales/how to measure tacit knowledge?
I am looking at a project measuring tacit knowledge in engineering professionals and would appreciate any advice you can give.
Dennis
Dr Dennis Rose
Lecturer
School of Management & Marketing
Faculty of Business, University of Southern Queensland
SPRINGFIELD Australia. Q 4300
Tel: +61 7 34704542 Fax: +61 7 34704501 Mobile: 0402 225701
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