Knowledge Management and Artificial Intelligence

Knowledge is a vital aspect of our daily lives, whether on a personal level or within organizations. Knowledge enables us to understand the world around us and make effective decisions. However, have you ever thought about describing knowledge and its types? In this article, we will explain what knowledge is, and what tacit and explicit knowledge are, and what the differences between them are.

Knowledge is the information, experiences, skills, and abilities that an individual or organization possesses, enabling them to make the right decisions and actions at the right time. Knowledge includes scientific, experimental, cultural, social, technical, administrative, and other types, and it constantly changes and evolves due to updates, innovations, and changes in society, culture, technology, economy, sciences, and modern technologies.

Knowledge management is the process of identifying, collecting, organizing, analyzing, distributing, and using knowledge within an organization. It involves creating and improving systems, methods, and processes for collecting, sharing, and utilizing knowledge within the organization.

Knowledge management is of great importance to organizations because it enables them to:

• Improve performance by providing the appropriate knowledge to the right people and enhancing decision-making and actions.
• Foster innovation by providing a suitable environment for creative thinking and innovation, and providing the necessary knowledge to develop new products and services.
• Enhance relationships by providing information and knowledge that help improve relationships with customers, partners, and suppliers.
• Improve responsiveness by providing the necessary knowledge to make quick decisions and appropriate actions in emergencies and unexpected problems.
• Improve quality by providing the appropriate knowledge to improve production and service processes, develop products, and meet customer needs with the highest possible quality.

There are several types of knowledge that organizations can possess and develop, among the most important of which are:

1. Tacit Knowledge: This is knowledge that an individual possesses indirectly and cannot be easily expressed. It includes experiences, skills, and personal abilities.
2. Explicit Knowledge: This is knowledge that can be expressed clearly and explicitly. It includes data, information, guidelines, rules, and procedures.
3. Networked Knowledge: This is knowledge that is created when tacit and explicit knowledge are interconnected. It includes relationships between individuals, groups, and organizations.
4. Social Knowledge: This is knowledge that is created when knowledge, experience, and information are exchanged between individuals and groups within the organization. It includes organizational culture and relationships between employees.
5. Technical Knowledge: This is knowledge that includes knowledge related to technology, science, engineering, mathematics, statistics, finance, and consulting. It is used to improve performance, innovation, and quality
6. Managerial Knowledge: This is knowledge that includes knowledge related to management, leadership, planning, organization, analysis, and evaluation. It is used to improve management processes and make strategic decisions.

Tacit Knowledge:

The word "tacit" means "implicit" or "not explicitly stated". It refers to something that is not expressed explicitly through speech or writing, but is understood or assumed implicitly through context, behavior, or surrounding circumstances. The word can be used to describe something that is not openly or visibly discussed, but is understood implicitly. Social conventions, traditions, and cultural norms are examples of tacit things that are relied upon without the need for explicit discussion.

Tacit knowledge refers to all the expertise, skills, and personal experiences that a person possesses, which cannot be expressed clearly and explicitly. In other words, tacit knowledge refers to things that are understood implicitly and cannot be easily expressed in speech or writing. For example, personal skills such as effective communication, attentive listening, and the ability to analyze events and deal with different situations can be part of tacit knowledge.

Explicit Knowledge:

The word "explicit" means "clear," "unambiguous," or "detailed." It refers to something that is expressed clearly and unambiguously, leaving no room for interpretation or guesswork. The word is used to describe something that is fully and thoroughly explained without bias or deviation from the truth. Unlike "tacit," which is implicit, "explicit" is expressed clearly and straightforwardly without any reservation or hint. The word can be used to describe anything that is expressed clearly and explicitly, whether in speech, writing, or any other form of expression.

Explicit knowledge refers to everything that is documented and expressed clearly and in detail, and can be easily accessed. In other words, explicit knowledge refers to things that can be expressed clearly and straightforwardly, and includes books, articles, manuals, reports, charts, graphs, and so on. For example, technical, scientific, statistical, and financial information can be part of explicit knowledge.

Differences between Tacit and Explicit Knowledge:

• Tacit knowledge is expressed implicitly and indirectly, while explicit knowledge is expressed explicitly and in detail.
• Tacit knowledge relies on personal experience and skills, while explicit knowledge relies on information, facts, and figures.
• Transferring tacit knowledge from one person to another is difficult, while transferring explicit knowledge can be easily done through writing and documentation.
• Measuring tacit knowledge is difficult, while measuring explicit knowledge is relatively easy.

Can Tacit Knowledge be Documented Explicitly?

Although tacit knowledge cannot be expressed explicitly in speech or writing, it can be documented in other ways. For example, tacit knowledge can be documented through training, coaching, and mentoring. Experts and specialists can convert tacit knowledge into explicit knowledge by documenting it in messages, reports, lectures, and lessons.

Moreover, artificial intelligence and data analytics techniques can be used to analyze behaviors, patterns, and personal experiences, and convert them into explicit knowledge that can be used in the future. These techniques may include big data analysis, machine learning, statistical analysis, and more.

In this way, tacit knowledge can be documented explicitly and made available for others to benefit from in the future. Although this requires additional time and effort, it can help improve productivity, efficiency, and processes within institutions and organizations.

What are the best ways to document tacit knowledge?

Documenting tacit knowledge can be a challenging task, as it relies on an individual's experience and expertise, which cannot be explicitly and clearly expressed. However, there are some methods that can be used to document tacit knowledge, including:

1. Personal interviews: Experts and individuals with practical experience can be interviewed to document their knowledge and experiences.
2. Shadowing and training: Individuals can learn tacit knowledge through shadowing and training with experts and individuals with practical experience.
3. Collaborative writing: Individuals can share their tacit knowledge through writing in blogs, forums, or different online communities, which can help in documenting tacit knowledge and providing value to others.
4. Documenting behavior and patterns: Artificial intelligence and analytics techniques can be used to analyze personal behaviors, patterns, and experiences and convert them into explicit knowledge that can be used in the future.
5. Documenting procedures and processes: The procedures and processes followed in institutions and companies can be documented to identify the tacit knowledge that needs to be documented and transferred to others.

In general, documenting tacit knowledge requires significant effort and time and should be handled with care and respect. The appropriate methods and techniques should be used to document tacit knowledge effectively and appropriately.

What are the tools that can be used to document tacit knowledge?

Documenting tacit knowledge requires different tools and techniques to gather, store, and convert information into explicit knowledge. Among the tools that can be used to document tacit knowledge are:

1. Electronic archiving: Electronic archiving can be used to store information, documents, reports, lectures, and lessons, which helps in documenting tacit knowledge and making it available to others.
2. Administrative systems: Different administrative systems can be used to document processes and procedures and identify the tacit knowledge that needs to be documented and transferred to others.
3. Statistical software: Statistical software can be used to analyze data and identify personal patterns and experiences, converting them into explicit knowledge that can be used in the future.
4. Machine learning software: Machine learning software can be used to analyze personal behaviors, patterns, and experiences, converting them into explicit knowledge that can be used in the future.
5. Collaboration and sharing software: Collaboration and sharing software such as email, forums, and sharing applications can be used to document tacit knowledge and provide value to others.
6. Social networks: Social networks can be used to communicate with experts and individuals with practical experience, share knowledge, and document it.

In general, different tools can be used to document tacit knowledge, and appropriate tools and techniques that meet the needs of the organization or institution should be selected.

Can the mentioned tools be used to document tacit knowledge in small enterprises?

Yes, the mentioned tools can effectively be used to document tacit knowledge in small enterprises. Although small enterprises may not have extensive resources for documentation and management, they can use affordable technological tools to document tacit knowledge.

For example, small enterprises can use cloud storage tools such as Google Drive or Dropbox to store documents, reports, lectures, and lessons. This helps to document tacit knowledge and make it available to others. They can also use free software such as Trello and Asana to track and organize different processes and procedures, which can help to document tacit knowledge and transfer it to others.

In general, small enterprises can use affordable technological tools to document tacit knowledge, and they should choose tools that are suitable for the size and needs of their company.

Using artificial intelligence in documenting both tacit and explicit knowledge within organizations.

Artificial intelligence can be used to document tacit and explicit knowledge within enterprises. Artificial intelligence can analyze data and identify patterns and personal experiences, and convert them into explicit knowledge that can be used in the future.

Artificial intelligence can be used to document tacit knowledge in several ways, such as:

1. Data analysis: Artificial intelligence can be used to analyze data related to processes and procedures, identify patterns and personal experiences, and convert them into explicit knowledge that can be used in the future.
2. Smart robots: Smart robots can be used to collect and analyze data and convert it into explicit knowledge, which can be used to document tacit knowledge.
3. Intelligent systems: Intelligent systems can be used to analyze data, identify patterns and personal experiences, and convert them into explicit knowledge that can be used in the future.
4. Machine learning: Machine learning techniques can be used to analyze data, identify patterns and personal experiences, and convert them into explicit knowledge that can be used in the future.

In general, artificial intelligence can be used to document tacit and explicit knowledge within enterprises, which can help to improve the quality of work and increase efficiency and productivity. However, it is important to choose tools and techniques that are suitable for the needs of the enterprise and the available resources.

What are the tools that can be used to document tacit knowledge using artificial intelligence?

Documenting tacit knowledge using artificial intelligence requires different tools and techniques to collect, analyze data and convert it into explicit knowledge. Among the tools that can be used to document tacit knowledge using artificial intelligence are:

1. Data analysis software: such as Tableau, Power BI, IBM Watson Analytics, and others, which help to analyze data and extract tacit knowledge from it.
2. Machine learning software: such as TensorFlow, Scikit-learn, Keras, and others, which help to train machine learning models and analyze data.
3. Speech and image recognition software: such as OpenCV, TensorFlow, Keras, and others, which help computers recognize images and sound and convert them into explicit knowledge.
4. Text analysis software: such as NLTK, Gensim, and others, which help to analyze text and extract tacit knowledge from it.
5. Smart robot software: such as Pepper, NAO, and others, which help to analyze data and convert it into explicit knowledge.

In general, there are many tools that can be used to document tacit knowledge using artificial intelligence, and it is important to choose tools and techniques that are suitable for the needs of the enterprise and the available resources.

Summary:

Knowledge management is the process of managing information within organizations with the aim of improving performance and increasing productivity. With the emergence of modern technologies, including artificial intelligence, it has become possible to employ them to improve knowledge management and transform it into tangible value for organizations.?

Artificial intelligence can be used to analyze and manage data, expand the organization's knowledge base, and develop artificial intelligence systems that help to convert tacit information into explicit information. This facilitates the sharing of knowledge within the organization and improves collaboration between employees.?

In general, using artificial intelligence in knowledge management can help improve the performance of organizations and increase the value of knowledge within them.