Objectives

Upon completion of this lesson, you will be able to:

  • define explicit vs tacit information
  • name the four ways in which knowledge is created and transferred

Overview

Nonaka and Takeuchi introduced the SECI Model (Nonaka & Takeuchi 1996) which has become the cornerstone of knowledge creation and transfer theory. They proposed four ways that knowledge types can be combined and converted, showing how knowledge is shared and created in the organization.

Explicit vs Tacit Knowledge

Information and knowledge can be explicitly defined (explicit knowledge) and stated or it can exist tacitly within people, processes, and systems (tacit knowledge).

Among the most important contributors to this area has been Ikujiro Nonaka. He worked extensively with the concepts of explicit and tacit knowledge. Nonaka realized and showed that many Western organizations tend to focus too much on tacit knowledge (Nonaka & Takeuchi 1996). According to Frost, this sentiment has since been echoed throughout the organizational learning and knowledge management (KM) literature (e.g., Tsoukas & Vladimirou 2001).

SECI Model

In their work in 1996, Nonaka and Takeuchi introduced the SECI Model (Nonaka & Takeuchi 1996) which has become the guiding framework of knowledge creation and information transfer theory. The model defines four stages in knowledge and information transfer: socialization, externalization, combination, and internalization.

  • Socialization: Tacit to Tacit. Knowledge is passed between parties through sharing, explanation, guidance, tutorials, apprenticeship, imitation, interaction, and observation.

  • Externalization: Tacit to Explicit. To make knowledge and information explicit rather than internal to people, systems, and processes, tacit knowledge is codified into documents, manuals, training materials, etc. and is published in shared information repositories such as intranet sites, wikis, blogs, documents, and knowledge bases. The goal is to disseminate knwoledge more efficiently and effectively throughout an organization and between parties. While simple on the surface, externalizing knowledge is quite difficult and often counter to human nature where information is often protected as a way to gain an advantage. Because tacit knowledge is very difficult to codify, the extent to which organization can use this knowledge conversion mechanism is debatable.

  • Combination: Explicit to Explicit. This is the simplest form of knowledge conversion, where codified knowledge sources (e.g., documents and manuals) are combined to create new knowledge. Knowledge is obtained from shared information repositories.

  • Internalization: Explicit to Tacit. As explicit sources are learned and applied in practice – learning by doing. The knowledge is internalized by its users, which, in turn, creates new tacit knowledge withing the users. Users continuously reflect on the internalization process and constantly seek to uncover patterns and connections.

The SECI Model (Nonaka & Takeuchi, 1996)
The SECI Model (Nonaka & Takeuchi, 1996)

Lecture

Slide Deck: The SECI Model

Summary

The SECI model provides a useful framework and reference model for studying how information and knowledge emerges and moves through an organization. A critique of the SECI model is that it does not address how new ideas are formed or how knowledge external to an organization is introduced, but rather focuses on the transfer of existing internal knowledge.

Learning Checkpoint

Complete this quiz after studying the lesson to determine where you may have a gap in your understanding.

Files & Resources

The source for this lesson and any associated code or data files can be downloaded for local viewing or creating derivative lessons from the link below.

All Files for Lesson 50.102

References

Nonaka, L., Takeuchi, H., & Umemoto, K. (1996). A Theory of Organizational Knowledge Creation. International Journal of Technology Management, 11(7-8), 833-845.

Tsoukas, H., & Vladimirou, E. (2001). What is organizational knowledge? Journal of Management Studies, 38(7), 973-993.

Errata

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