Exploring Explicit, Implicit, and Tacit Knowledge in Project Management
In the world of managing projects, there are three kinds of knowledge: explicit, implicit, and tacit. These might seem like big words, but they're like different tools that help make projects work well. Let's break down these types of knowledge using a simple example of a project to create a website for a cake shop.
Think of explicit knowledge as the clear recipe for making a cake. It's like writing down all the steps so anyone can follow them. In our website project, explicit knowledge would be things like the list of pages the website needs, the colors and fonts to use, and the features customers should see. These are all instructions that everyone on the project team can easily understand.
Implicit knowledge is like being really good at decorating cakes because you've practiced a lot. It's a skill you can use in different cake-making situations. For our website project, implicit knowledge could be knowing how to create a user-friendly layout that works well on different devices. This skill is transferable to different projects, just like being a skilled cake decorator is handy for various cake designs.
Tacit knowledge is the little secrets you know about baking cakes perfectly because you've done it a lot. It's like knowing when the cake is ready just by looking at it, even though you can't explain exactly how. In our website project, tacit knowledge would come from personal experience. A team member who has worked on similar websites might have a "gut feeling" about what works best, based on their past experiences, even if they can't describe it step by step.
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Conclusion
Just like different ingredients make a cake special, different types of knowledge make projects successful. Explicit knowledge is like the clear recipe, implicit knowledge is the useful skills, and tacit knowledge is the wisdom gained from experience. When working on a project, whether it's making a cake or creating a website, remember that these types of knowledge work together to bring out the best results.
References: Different Types of Knowledge: Implicit, Tacit, and Explicit (Bloomfire, 2023)
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