Tacit Knowledge Space and Organizational Efficiency

Chatterjee, Sidharta (2023): Tacit Knowledge Space and Organizational Efficiency.

Abstract

In this paper I discuss what we mean by a “Tacit Knowledge Space” (TKS) and how it relates to organizational efficiency. The idea of tacit knowledge space is a borrowed concept from Michael Polanyi’s seminal work and it derives a rich understanding of an organizational space which is occupied by knowledge dimension characterizing the implicit aspects of knowledge transfer and decodification of the tacit component of learning and skill development into its more readily applicable explicit counterpart. This TKS is a growing space in knowledge organizations and workplaces that is found to be immensely useful among the knowledge workers of today. We discuss these issue and construct a structural frame to model such a space that has organizational implications and contributes to employee efficiency in the long run.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Tacit dimension, tacit knowledge space, knowledge workers, organizational efficiency.
• Subjects: O - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth > O3 - Innovation ; Research and Development ; Technological Change ; Intellectual Property Rights

References

Ahlstrom, D. (2010). Innovation and growth: How business contributes to society. Academy of management perspectives, 24(3), 11-24.

Baron, A., & Armstrong, M. (2007). Human capital management: achieving added value through people. Kogan Page Publishers.

Baumard, P. (1999). Tacit knowledge in organizations. Sage.

Bennet, D., & Bennet, A. (2008). Engaging tacit knowledge in support of organizational learning. Vine, 38(1), 72-94.

Bontis, N., & Serenko, A. (2007). The moderating role of human capital management practices on employee capabilities. Journal of knowledge management, 11(3), 31-51.

Dessein, W., & Prat, A. (2022). Organizational capital, corporate leadership, and firm dynamics. Journal of Political Economy, 130(6), 1477-1536.

Drucker, P. F. (1999). Knowledge-worker productivity: The biggest challenge. California management review, 41(2), 79-94.

Fiol, C. M., & Lyles, M. A. (1985). Organizational learning. Academy of management review, 10(4), 803-813.

Hayek, F. A. (1945). The Use of Knowledge in Society. The American Economic Review, 35(4), 519-530.

Hennings, K. H. (1990). Capital as a Factor of Production. In Capital Theory (pp. 108-122). London: Palgrave Macmillan UK.

K. Kakabadse, N., Kouzmin, A., & Kakabadse, A. (2001). From tacit knowledge to knowledge management: Leveraging invisible assets. Knowledge and process management, 8(3), 137-154.

Levitt, B., & March, J. G. (1988). Organizational learning. Annual review of sociology, 14(1), 319-338.

Lyon, D. W., & Ferrier, W. J. (2002). Enhancing performance with product-market innovation: the influence of the top management team. Journal of managerial Issues, 452-469.

Martín‐de‐Castro, G., Emilio Navas‐López, J., López‐Sáez, P., & Alama‐Salazar, E. (2006). Organizational capital as competitive advantage of the firm. Journal of Intellectual Capital, 7(3), 324-337.

Murphy, K. J., & Zabojnik, J. (2006). Managerial Capital and the Market for CEOs (No. 2110-2018-4235).

Neill, S., Wu, M., & Noel, T. W. (2023). Linking managerial capital with explorative strategy and growth in China. Management Research Review, 46(4), 605-624.

Polanyi, M. (2009). The tacit dimension. In Knowledge in organisations (pp. 135-146). Routledge.

Prescott, E. C., & Visscher, M. (1980). Organization capital. Journal of political Economy, 88(3), 446-461.

Schultz, T. W. (1972). Human capital: Policy issues and research opportunities. In Economic Research: Retrospect and Prospect, Volume 6, Human Resources (pp. 1-84). NBER.

Tsoukas, H. (2005). Do we really understand tacit knowledge. Managing knowledge: an essential reader, 107, 1-18.

Van Marrewijk, M., & Timmers, J. (2003). Human capital management: New possibilities in people management. Journal of Business Ethics, 44, 171-184.