Types of Knowledge

Different Types of Knowledge

Knowledge has been classified and characterized in several different ways
Declarative vs. Procedural Knowledge
Declarative knowledge (facts) is also called substantive knowledge. It focuses on
beliefs about relationships among variables. Substantive knowledge refers to the deep
understanding of a particular subject or area of study. It involves knowing the core principles,
facts, theories, and concepts related to that subject. For example, in the context of library
science, substantive knowledge would include understanding cataloguing systems,
information retrieval methods, and archival practices.
For example, a greater price charged for a product would cause some reduction in its
number of sales. It can be stated in the form of propositions, expected correlations, or
formulas relating concepts represented as variables.
Procedural knowledge (how to ride a bicycle)
It focuses on beliefs relating sequences of steps or actions to have desired outcomes.
It’s the knowledge of steps, techniques, or procedures needed to accomplish something.
Procedural knowledge refers to the "how-to" aspect of learning, focusing on the processes
and methods for performing tasks or solving problems. It’s the knowledge of steps,
techniques, or procedures needed to accomplish something. Unlike substantive knowledge,
which focuses on facts and concepts, procedural knowledge emphasizes the ability to apply
that knowledge in practice.
Examples of procedural knowledge include:
- Knowing how to catalog books in a library system (in library science).
- Solving mathematical equations using specific algorithms.
- Writing code to create a web application (in programming).
- Conducting an experiment using the scientific method.
In essence, procedural knowledge is about knowing how to do something, while
substantive knowledge is about understanding what and why.
For example, the set of justified beliefs about the procedure that should be followed in a
government organization in deciding on whom to award the contract for a particular area
(e.g., information system development)
General vs. Specific Knowledge
General knowledge is possessed by a widely large number of individuals and can be
transferred easily across individuals. For example, knowledge about the rules of cricket,
especially among the spectators at a cricket ground
Specific knowledge is also called idiosyncratic (individual, distinguish, unique) knowledge.
Specific knowledge refers to expertise or information that is detailed and specialized in a
particular field or subject. This knowledge is often highly contextual and may not be easily
transferred to other domains. It goes beyond general or foundational knowledge, diving deep
into niche areas within a broader subject.
Examples of specific knowledge include:
 Understanding how a particular software tool works, such as a specific library
management system like Koha in library science.
 Knowing the history and structure of DDC classification systems.
 Mastering the design and functions of a particular medical device in healthcare.
Specific knowledge is often what distinguishes experts in a field, as it allows them to perform
tasks or make decisions that require in-depth, highly detailed understanding. It is often gained
through extensive experience or specialized education. It is possessed by a very limited
number of individuals and is expensive to transfer. For example, the knowledge of a
professional cricket coach.
Specific knowledge is of three types
Technically specific knowledge is deep knowledge about a specific area. It includes
knowledge about the tools and techniques that may be used to address problems in that area.
This kind of knowledge is often acquired as a part of some formal training and is then
augmented through experience in the field. Examples include the scientific knowledge
possessed by a physicist and the knowledge about computer hardware possessed by a
computer engineer
Context-specific knowledge refers to the knowledge of particular circumstances of time and
place in which work is to be performed. It pertains to the organization and organizational
subunit within which tasks are performed. For example, a detailed knowledge a design
engineer possesses about the working style of the particular design group in which he is
working
This type of knowledge refers to information or expertise relevant to a particular situation,
environment, or set of circumstances. It is often acquired through experience and can vary
depending on the context.
 Example: In business negotiations, context-specific knowledge might involve
understanding the cultural norms of a particular country or the specific business
 dynamics at play.
 In software development: Context-specific knowledge could include knowing the
constraints of the hardware a system will run on, or the specific needs of the end-
users.
Context-and-technology-specific knowledge is specific in terms of both the context and
technical aspects. It simultaneously involves both rich scientific knowledge and an
understanding of the particular context. For example, knowledge of how to decide on the
stocks (shares) to acquire within an industry is context-and-technology-specific; it blends an
understanding of that industry's dynamics as well as the tools used to analyze stock
performance
Explicit Knowledge
Explicit knowledge is knowledge that can be easily articulated, codified, stored, and
transmitted to others. It is formal and systematic, typically captured in written documents,
databases, or media. Since it is structured and well-documented, explicit knowledge can be
shared and taught through manuals, textbooks, training programs, or other instructional
materials.
Key Characteristics of Explicit Knowledge:
1. Easily Communicated: It can be readily explained or written down, making it
accessible for others to learn.
2. Structured: Explicit knowledge is organized in a logical manner, often through
diagrams, manuals, processes, or frameworks.
3. Codified: It is often found in formal repositories such as databases, textbooks,
scientific articles, or training materials.
4. Transferable: It can be easily shared between individuals or across organizations,
often through written or electronic communication.
That is recorded on documents or databases. It is easy to understand.
• Explicit knowledge refers to knowledge that has been expressed into words and numbers

• Such knowledge can be shared formally and systematically in the form of data,

specifications, manuals (guidelines or instructions how to perform activity), drawings, audio

and videotapes, computer programs, and the like

Tacit Knowledge

Tacit knowledge is personal, experiential knowledge that is difficult to articulate, codify, or

transfer to others. Unlike explicit knowledge, which can be documented and shared easily,

tacit knowledge is often learned through experience, practice, and personal insights. It is

deeply embedded in an individual’s skills, intuition, and mindset, making it challenging to

communicate in written or verbal form.

Key Characteristics of Tacit Knowledge:

1. Personal and Contextual: Tacit knowledge is unique to an individual, shaped by

their experiences, culture, and interactions. It’s often specific to a particular context or

situation.

2. Hard to Formalize: Because it’s intuitive and rooted in experience, tacit knowledge

is difficult to express in formal language or documentation.

3. Acquired Through Practice: It’s often gained through years of doing something or

through observation, making it experiential.

4. Transfer Through Interaction: Tacit knowledge is usually shared through close

interaction, mentorship, or apprenticeships rather than through written instructions.

Examples of Tacit Knowledge:

 Riding a bicycle: Knowing how to maintain balance and control while cycling is

something that comes from practice, not from reading a manual.

 Leadership skills: Effective leadership often depends on soft skills like emotional

intelligence, intuition, and the ability to read situations, which are learned through

experience.

Implicit knowledge:
Implicit knowledge refers to knowledge that an individual possesses but may not be
fully aware of or consciously able to articulate. Unlike explicit knowledge, which is easily
communicated, and tacit knowledge, which is deeply personal and experiential, implicit
knowledge lies somewhere in between. It is knowledge that has not yet been formalized or
made explicit, but with effort, it can be articulated and documented if needed.
Key Characteristics of Implicit Knowledge:
 1. Unconsciously Applied: It is often used without the individual realizing they possess
it, like an automatic response or habit developed through experience.
2. Not Fully Articulated: While the knowledge exists, the person may not be able to
explain it in detail or even realize they have it until it is needed.
3. Can Be Made Explicit: With effort and reflection, implicit knowledge can be
transformed into explicit knowledge by analyzing and documenting it.
Knowledge that is in the head of people but easy to capture, record or write in documents.
Why KM is Needed
 The ability to manage knowledge is becoming increasingly more crucial in the today's
knowledge economy.
 Knowledge is considered a valuable commodity or intellectual asset embedded in
products and the tacit knowledge of employees
 The advent of the Internet, the World Wide Web, has made unlimited sources of
knowledge available to us all
 The sustainable advance a firm has comes from what it collectively knows, how
efficiently it uses what it knows, and how quickly it acquires and uses new knowledge
 The most valuable benefits from KM arise from sharing knowledge with current
fellow employees (use) as well as sharing knowledge with future (often unknown
employees (reuse)
 Two major goals for KM: improving organizational efficiency, through knowledge
use and reuse, and increasing the organizational capacity to innovate, through
knowledge use and reuse
 In order to ensure that KM creates value, there is a strong need for a deliberate and
systematic approach to cultivating and sharing a company's knowledge base— one
populated with valid and valuable lessons learned and best practices
 Knowledge management solutions have proven to be most successful in the capture,
storage. and subsequent dissemination of knowledge that has been rendered explicit—
particularly lessons learned and best practices
 When asked, most executives often state that their greatest asset is the knowledge held
by their employees. "When employees walk out the door, they take valuable
organizational knowledge with them."
 Managers also add that they have no idea how to manage this knowledge
Objectives of KM
  Facilitate a smooth transition from those retiring to their successors who are recruited
to fill their positions.
 Minimize loss of corporate memory due to attrition and retirement.
 Identify critical resources and critical areas of knowledge so that the corporation
knows what it knows and does well-and why.
 Build up a toolkit of methods that can be used with individuals, with groups, and with
the organization to stem the potential loss of intellectual capital.
Multidisciplinary Nature of Knowledge Management
 Organizational science
 Information and library science
 Technical writing and journalism
 Anthropology and sociology
 Education and training
 Collaborative technologies such as groupware, intranets, extranets, portals and other
web technologies
 Artificial Intelligence
 Help Desk Systems
 Technical Writing
 Database Technologies
 Electronic Performance
 Web Technologies