Knowledge Management

The Tacit Way of Traveling

One of the best descriptions of tacit knowledge’s makeup comes from David Snowden, former director of the Knowledge and Differentiation Programme at IBM Global Services. He uses the analogy of how best to get around London’s roads: One could use a map, which contains information with which to navigate using universal symbols and structures to observe, orientate, and then decide how to move. But using the services of a cab is faster, because the driver uses his tacit knowledge compulsorily acquired over 30 prequalification months cycling round the streets of London. To this I would add the knowledge from day-to-day experience of bottlenecks and throughways.

For more tangible business illustrations of tacit knowledge’s ...