Knowledge

Since the time of the earliest philosophers men and women have attempted to both understand and define the concept of knowledge. There is no generic form of words that can adequately express what we understand to be knowledge. However, the following definition [5] can be offered as one that meets the needs of this report: “Knowledge is a fluid mix of framed experience, values, contextual information, and expert insight that provides a framework for evaluating and incorporating new experiences and information. It originates in the minds of knowers. In organizations, it often becomes embedded not only in documents or repositories but also in organizational routines, processes, practices, and norms.” It is very difficult, in a publication about the management of radioactive waste knowledge, to use specific terminology in an absolutely accurate and consistent way where the subject (the knowledge) can be framed in so many ways. Figure 1 shows how knowledge is created.

FIG. 1. The relationship of information and knowledge.

Reference will be made in this report to ‘contextual information’. This is information that helps the reader to understand, to recognize value, relevance, constraints and trustworthiness of other information — particularly if that information is highly complex and specialized. It will, inter alia, help the reader to answer questions such as ‘why should I believe this information?’, ‘what value can I attribute to this information?’ and ‘can I use this information to create new knowledge?’ The International Council on Archives (ICA) has published guidance on the management of contextual information in the field of safety of radioactive waste disposal facilities [6]. The IAEA has compiled a glossary of knowledge management terms [7] that are particularly applicable in the nuclear sector. The following sections contain brief descriptions of the important terms, as used in this report. The aim here is achieve consistency within this report.

Knowledge types

When reading this report, knowledge should be thought of as not just documented information but also undocumented personal insight, experience and skills. Thus, knowledge extends beyond pure information, because it includes the means for understanding and interpreting it in the way intended by the person who created it. There are three different types of knowledge to which reference is often made: explicit, implicit and tacit. These are briefly discussed below — further information can be found in the NKM Glossary (see Ref. [7]) and related IAEA guidance [8].

Explicit knowledge

Explicit knowledge is that which can be contained and conveyed in documents, drawings, calculations, designs, databases, procedures and manuals. This type of knowledge is also referred to as information. Explicit knowledge can be recalled and articulated by the bearer, and subsequently recorded (for example, RWM documentation and databases).

Implicit knowledge

Implicit knowledge can sometimes be difficult to recall and articulate but, when it is, it can be recorded in a document. Implicit knowledge is often gained through personal exposure to circumstances (for example, the working environment) or experiences (for example, packaging radioactive waste).

Tacit knowledge

The third type of knowledge, tacit knowledge, is generally regarded as that which is difficult to recall, and virtually impossible to articulate and record. All humans possess tacit knowledge and they are only aware of it when they apply it. So-called ‘common sense’ may be regarded by some as a form of tacit knowledge and its technical content may be more limited than that of implicit knowledge (for example, not recordable experience in the head of a WM facility operator).