Knowledge
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Contents
Definition
Knowledge is a mix of experiences, values, contextual information and expert insight for acquiring, understanding and interpreting information. Together with attitudes and skills, it forms a capacity for effective action.
Description
Since the time of the earliest philosophers men and women have attempted to both understand and define the concept of knowledge. Knowledge is often used to refer to a body of facts and principles accumulated by humankind over the course of time. However, no single definition of knowledge exists that has been generally agreed upon. Table 1 shows some of the definitions:
For our purpose, the following definition will be used:
Knowledge is a mix of experiences, values, contextual information and expert insight for acquiring, understanding and interpreting information. Together with attitudes and skills, it forms a capacity for effective action.
It is important to recognize the distinction between knowledge, information and data. Raw data become information in the context of creation, information becomes knowledge in the context of use. Knowledge may eventually lead to wisdom. The figure 1 shows these relationships.
Knowledge is considered an asset to be managed, it could be an input, it may be embedded in work methods (i.e. part of a process) or it can be a product (i.e. an output). Knowledge may often be time dependent or contextual, and must be maintained and renewed.
Knowledge is not static, it goes through different stages of a lifecycle (i.e. creating, using, sharing, preserving)
In the concept of knowledge, different dimensions should be considered: types, holders, levels, usage, etc.
Types of knowledge
In knowledge management it is important to recognize three types of knowledge — explicit, implicit and tacit — as depicted in the diamond model in Fig. 2,. The top half of the diamond represents explicit knowledge — or conscious level knowledge — which has either already been codified or could be codified. The bottom half of the diamond represents unconscious knowledge — both implicit knowledge and tacit knowledge. The former can be codified if brought to the conscious level. However, the latter cannot be codified directly because it is at the deep-unconscious level.
Knowledge holders
Knowledge exists in different forms and at different levels: individual (link), group, organization, sector (e.g. Nuclear knowledge). Although it originates in the minds of individuals, in organizations it often becomes embedded not only in documents or repositories but also in organizational routines, processes, practices, and norms.
References
[2] This discussion of the three different types of knowledge derives from a presentation developed by KURONEN T. of the BIT Research Center, Helsinki University of Technology entitled “What is tacit knowledge in NPP maintenance and what are the prerequisites for sharing it?” It was presented to the CSNI International Workshop, Ottawa, Canada, 3-5 October 2005.
[5] DAVENPORT, T.H., PRUSAK, L., Working Knowledge: How Organizations Manage What They Know, Harvard Business School Press, Boston, MA (2000).
[6] INTERNATION COUNCIL ON ARCHIVES, Radioactive Waste Information: Meeting Our Obligations to Future Generations with Regard to Safety of Waste Disposal Facilities, ICA Study 18, ICA, Paris (2006).
[7] INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY, Planning and Execution of Knowledge Management Assist missions for Nuclear Organizations, IAEA-TECDOC-1586, IAEA, Vienna (2008).
[8] INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY, Knowledge Management for Nuclear Industry Operating Organizations, IAEA-TECDOC-1510, IAEA, Vienna (2006).
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